The 5th Cut – Imperial Palace and Memories of Geisha (Hibiya, Kagurazaka)

While Hibiya is a business district, it holds the beautiful Hibiya Park and within a few minutes, you can walk to the Imperial Palace. In Kagurazaka, you can still hear the sound of old Japanese musical instruments and find Geisha passing by. At the same time, this area is the French quarter. There are French schools, French companies and lots of authentic French restaurants!

◆Park Side Dinner at the Imperial Hotel
Kick off your day at this upscale diner in the Imperial Hotel. This spacious diner offers American classic fares as well as international cuisine. Yes, the price is expensive, but it’s worth trying! From 6:00am to 11:00am, they serve excellent breakfast and the home made pancake is something else!
Address: 1-1-1, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Closest station: Hibiya station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya line (H07), Mita line (I08) and Chiyoda line(C09))
Closest exit: A13
http://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/cgi-bin/imperial_hp/index_e.cgi?ac1=ET&ac2=&Page=hpd_view

◆Hibiya Park and Imperial Palace
Enjoy a walk after a delicious breakfast. Hibiya Park is just beside the Imperial Hotel and sometimes widely acclaimed artists hold concerts in this big, beautiful park.
Also, the Imperial Palace is only a few minutes away from the Imperial Hotel. Go out from the main entrance of the hotel and turn left, and turn right at the entrance of Hibiya Park.
If you are in the mood for exercise, you can jog around the palace.

◆Going to Kagurazaka
Take the Yurakucho line from Hibiya station and get off at Iidabashi station (Y13, Yurakucho line). Go out from exit B3, turn right and go up the slope. This long and gentle slope is Kagurazaka (Kagura-slope if literally translated). Many restaurants and curious shops line the slope and there are few tall buildings around here. If you walk down the back streets, you can hear Geisha practicing their songs and playing Japanese traditional instruments. Also, you can find a number of chic cafes and French restaurants between established Japanese restaurants, which make this area very unique. Here are some recommendations for lunch and dinner.

◆Tatsumiya (Japanese Restaurant Specialized in Eel Dishes)　たつみやWould Grilled eel sound gross to you? Actually it’s one of the best Japanese delicacies and the Japanese get refueled by eating grilled eel during the hot summer.This small restaurant was one of the favorites of John Lennon. From Iidabashi station, go up Kagurazaka slope and turn right at the corner of the Chinese Restaurant called “Gojyuban” (五十番). You can find Tatsumita (たつみや) on your left.
Address: 4-3, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3260-7016, 1792 (Closed on Tuesdays and every third Monday)

◆Brasserie Gus (French Restaurant)
Here you can enjoy hearty, authentic French fare. The lunch menu is really a bargain price (JPY 1,050!), and it’s one of the most popular restaurants of the French residents of Tokyo.
Direction: From Iidabashi station, go up Kagura-zaka and after passing the Tokyo Metro Kagurazaka station, turn left at the first intersection. Along Ushigome Naka Dori, you can see the restaurant on your left. A reservation is highly recommended for dinner time.
Address: 82, Yarai-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3268-7157 (Closed on Sundays)

◆Maison de la Bourgogne (French Restaurant)Standard French fare and reasonably priced Bourgogne wines. Terrace seats are perfect for having lunch on a sunny day. Direction: From IIdabashi station, go up Kagurazaka and turn left at the corner of Bob’s Fit Market and Lucy Rose (retail shop).
Address: 3-6-5. Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3260-7280 (Closed on Mondays)

◆La Brasserie (French Restaurant)
Time passes slowly in this beautiful, cozy French restaurant in L’institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo (the French Institute in Japan). As well as their hearty French fare, you can enjoy the beautiful garden and nice view. Like other restaurants in the college, the prices are reasonable. Go out from Exit B3 of Iidabashi station and cross the street crossing and walk straight along the river. After approx. 7 minutes walk, you can find L’institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo on your right.
Address: 15, Ichigaya Funagawara Machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5206-2741 (Open Everyday. They don’t serve dinner on Sundays.)

◆Kintarou　金太郎Delicious skewed grilled chicken and other Japanese dishes. All the tableware is made of tin and the quality of the chicken meat is superb! From Iidabashi station, go up Kagurazaka slope and turn right at the corner of Chinese Restaurant called “Gojyuban” (五十番). It’s about a few minutes walk from from ①Tatsumita.
Address: 3-20, Tsukudo-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5228-2989