From Kamiya-cho Station, we can walk to Tokyo Tower and a temple with long avenues of stone Jizo figures holding pinwheels.
Our first stop is the landmark you can see from anywhere in the city – an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, except that it’s orange (and slightly taller). From the observation deck, there’s a 360° panoramic view.




If we skirt Tokyo Tower and head down the hill, we’ll arrive at Zojo-ji Temple.



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Let’s not leave the Kamiyacho area without eating. Two of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo are within walking distance:
Tofu-ya Ukai is a destination in itself – constructed like a daimyo’s palace, a lunch or dinner reservation gets you a lovely private tatami room with a view of the Japanese garden that sprawls through the central courtyard of the restaurant. Tofu is the retaurant’s specialty – they make their own, fresh every day – but the menus are kaiseki style, not vegetarian. It’s a set menu, with a progression of 9-10 small dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients, cooked in different ways. Reservations are necessary.


My other fave in this neighborhood is Restaurant New Asia (or Shin Ah Hanten, as it’s known by locals). It’s Chinese, but it’s Japanese Chinese. Although it’s authentic Shanghai style cuisine, it’s made with fantastically fresh Japanese ingredients with a lighter touch. Their specialty is shurumpo (Shanghai style pork dumplings) and they’re by far the best dumplings I’ve ever had, anywhere.

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Read a novel set in Tokyo
