For the majority of business travelers, if we follow the statistics, Tokyo is supposed to be the "Most Expensive City in the World." Well, in a way that's true, but not if you know your way around the city, and you have the right information at hand.

Today's Gourmet Corner will be short, but precise. It will inform you that not all the hotels in Tokyo are the most expensive in the world, and also you can eat very well - great Japanese food - for a fair price.

Tokyo has many neighborhoods: Ginza, Shinju-ku, Shibuya-ku, Akasaka, Roppongi, Asakusa, Ueno, Arajuku, etc. etc.

In the 60's, the "in" place was Ginza; in the 70's, it was Akasaka; in the 80's, it was Shinjuku and Shibuya. The "in" place in Tokyo has always been defined by the biggest number of foreigners or "Gaijin's" living, working or visiting there. Right now, the "in" places in Tokyo are Arajuku and Roppongi.

If you visit Roppongi, you can find almost the same number of Japanese as foreigners on the street (relatively speaking). And, it is in Roppongi and its neighborhood, where you can find the newest type of hotel - the "Aparthotel" - which was introduced in Tokyo only in 2003. The prices are very attractive in this hotel (with all the extras) for the business traveler, compared to the sky rocketing prices of the standard business hotels you are used to.

In Roppongi – not far (only 3 minutes walking distance) from Roppongi Metro Station on Hibiya Line or the "Roppongi Crossing" – you can find: The Mansions at Roppongi.

Opened in 2003, this unique Aparthotel Chain, with serviced apartments, combines the stylish convenience of a hotel, with the comfort of home, at a price per apartment that you can afford (the cheapest in Tokyo), with all the amenities of a hotel, all the facilities of an office, all the comfort of your own home.

The Mansions offers – whether you're staying just two or three days, or for a long term – the possibility to rent:

1. Studio Unit [34+ m²] - [Daily: 18,000/22,000 Yen] = [ > 110/135 Euro or 140/170 US$ ] Ideal for single travelers or couples, featuring all the comforts you need: King Size bed, bathroom, kitchen with fridge, oven, microwave, washing machine, latest model flat screen TV, DVD player, desk, direct telephone line, all the computer connections, etc. etc.
2. One Bedroom (Superior) [37+m²] - [Daily: 26,000 Yen] > One Bedroom Unit features bedroom and living room, with kitchen and all the amenities detailed before.
3. One Bedroom (Deluxe) [48+m²] - [Daily: 28,000 Yen] Features a bedroom and living room, with desk area, bathroom, all the amenities.
4. One Bedroom Executive Unit [74+m²] - [36,000 Yen] Features an expanded living room, a dining area, bedroom, office area, kitchen, and bathroom.
5. Two Bedroom Executive Unit [105+m²] - [45,000 Yen] Covering 105 square meters, huge by Tokyo standards – Two bedrooms, living room, dining room, office area, kitchen, bath, all a must in Tokyo.

For your information, 2004 prices in Tokyo hotels such as the Hilton Tokyo, Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel, Park Hyatt Tokyo, or the Westin Tokyo, range from: 29,000 to 52,000 Yen, for a single or double room.

THE MANSIONS AT ROPPONGI
3-8-5 Roppongi - Minato-Ku
Tokyo
(Next door to Roppongi Crossing)
Tel: (+ 81) 3 5414 7070
Fax: (+ 81) 3 5414 7088

Email: roppongi@themansions.jp
Shunsuke Masuda > Guest Relations
Yutaka Yasuda > Front Desk Reception

THE MANSIONS at AZABU TOWERS

A) One Bedroom [70+m²] - [Daily: 26,000 Yen]
Bigger than most Tokyo apartments & considerably larger than the studio unit, the 70 square meter One Bedroom unit features a Master Bedroom & a Living Room with separate kitchen & all the amenities detailed before

B) Two Bedroom (Superior) [90+m²] - [Daily: 36,000 Yen]
Features a Master Bedroom with a second bedroom - ideal for a child or for a guest with spacious living area + all the amenities.

C) Two Bedroom (Deluxe) [110+m²] - [44,000 Yen]
Features an Expanded Living Room, Separate Dining area + Two Bedrooms, Bathroom & Two Rest Rooms

D) Three Bedroom [148+m²] - [51,000/57,000 Yen]
Covering nearly 150 square meters, very huge by Tokyo standards - Three Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining area, Kitchen & Two Full Baths, a must in Tokyo.

**********************

Roppongi Crossing is the place for nightlife in Tokyo. Many restaurants are open until 3:00AM, with almost 130 to choose from – unfortunately, not all of the restaurants are up to the best standards – and some pubs, bars, discos and eateries are open all night.

For the top range of restaurants go to the complex; "Roppongi Hills" – one of the landmarks in Tokyo – where you can find some "Class" restaurants as the branch of Spago, sister restaurant of Spago in LA and Las Vegas.

Don't forget to visit the Top View Deck of Roppongi Hills, you can have the best view – 360°of Tokyo – and much better than the Tokyo Tower, Shinjuku Tower or the Park Hyatt.

**********************

- TSUKIJI SUSHIKO (Sushi & Sashimi Restaurant) Roppongi Branch of a famous Tokyo chain of top quality fish restaurants.

The restaurant is small, only two tables (max 8 persons), and a "Sushi Counter" for about I2 people. The food is excellent, the quality of the fish top class, and the prices very budget minded for a sushi restaurant. You can eat for 10, 20 or 30 dollars depending the number of beers or sake you drink.

The have only one menu in English with photos of the dishes, but you can always see at the counter what is on sale from the fish of the day, or you can ask Rintaro Hariu the Maitre D and the only person in the restaurant who speaks English.

The restaurant doesn't take reservations; so the first to come, the first served!

Tsukiji Sushiko is a "hole in the wall" located in the middle of Roppongi Crossing, corner of Gaien-Higashi Street & Imoaraizaka, next to Citibank Cashing Corner & in front of Almond Coffee Shop the landmark of Roppongi Crossing & the Meeting Point at the Crossing

- GONPACHI (Traditional Japanese Restaurant with Great Atmosphere)

House Specialty is "Soba" – Japanese Noodles served cool, hot, in soup, roasted, you name it and "Yakitori" – Japanese Skewers of everything. Both are available at very moderate prices.

The kitchen is located in the middle of the restaurant with a counter around. The best tables are located at the "Smokers Mezzanine" on the right side. There are nice cubicles for two, three or four persons where you can see the kitchen and the entire restaurant. There' great atmosphere, even if you are a non-smoker, so try it at least once because you won't regret it. Anyway, with the smell of the Yakitori grill and the Soba cooking, you don't smell the cigarettes smoke.

Gonpachi Restaurant is located in Roppongi Street (direction from Shibuya - right side) from the Roppongi Crossing, past the level of the Roppongi Hills Complex after the corner of TV Asahi Street (They have a beer garden at the entrance)

Tel: 03 5771 0170
Ask your hotel for a reservation, the restaurant is normally full.

**********************

Tokyo, as I mentioned in my introduction, has many neighborhoods to visit – many temples and parks, many shopping centers, many of everything – so the choice is yours, but let me give you some advice, don't forget to visit:

Early morning (6/7:00 AM) The Central Fish Market (Tsukiji) at the Tsukiji Metro Station on Hibiya Line.

And Sunday (mid-day and afternoon): The "Meeting Place of the 'Lolitas' of Tokyo" next to Harajuku Metro Station at the entrance of the Meiji/Yoyogi Park.

It's an interesting get together of the Japanese new generation, where everybody is dressed in the "Manga" fashion of the "lolitas" (mainly black & white), and of course at the same time, you can visit the magnificent Meiji Park & Shrine.

That's all!