Sponsored by Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
After getting off the plane in Tokyo, it’s easy to get swept up in the beautiful buildings and bustle of well-mannered Tokyo citizens and visitors alike, exploring everything the city has to offer: From neon-soaked streets filled with endless entertainment and LGBTQ+ fun to sprawling urban developments designed with lush, interconnected greenery, Tokyo is filled with design hotspots that are breathtaking to behold and memorable when planning a trip to one of the hottest cities in the world.
Whether you’re LGBTQ+ or not, you’ll be captivated by what Tokyo’s design has to offer throughout the city. Hotspots catered to foodies, fashion lovers, and those fascinated by culture and museums will find themselves wrapped up in an unforgettable experience from a city that is both endless in its offerings and welcoming to all people. Even though most couples don’t practice PDA in Tokyo, if you’re there with your partner and your family, you will be welcomed by a city with an LGBTQ+ initiative called the Tokyo Partnership Oath System, as well as being a part of the IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association).
With so many areas to explore when traveling, it’s easy to get wrapped up in trying to figure out where to go. Luckily, for design enthusiasts who are looking for something new, there are four major destinations to plan your trip around when visiting.
For those intrigued by urban design and city planning, Azabudai Hills is a must-visit destination for being the largest urban development that is opening in November, 2023. With a modern and lush design, Azabudai Hills is described as a “plaza-like town surrounded by greenery that connects people,” and boasts Japan’s tallest and architecturally-stunning buildings. Included is “Azabudai Hills Market” that is filled with endless restaurants and a mecca of top fashion brands to shop from. And you can spend your vacation there by staying at Janu Tokyo, a sister brand of Aman Resorts. This is the green city-within-a-city that must be seen to be believed.
teamLab Borderless, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo ©teamLab
Prepare to have your mind blown as your eyes take on an otherworldly experience like no other when you visit this returning museum scheduled to reopen in January 2024. At the teamLab Borderless, recognized as the most visited art museum (single art group) in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records, enter a space filled with boundary-breaking installations that trick the eye into seeing truly spectacular things. This museum is made up of works that move out of rooms, communicate with other works, influence, and sometimes intermingle with each other with no boundaries, forming one borderless world, and will feature a sculpture made completely out of rays of light. When teamLab Borderless returns, expect to find even more new works to be on display, providing endless art concepts that will cease to amaze you.
Prepare to fall in love with evolving traditional Japanese design concepts when visiting Time & Style in Tokyo Midtown. This furniture brand is based in Tokyo and has its own factory located in Hokkaido. Their furniture, lighting, tableware, and lacquerware are manufactured based on Japanese techniques to suit modern life. What Time & Style creates is a material-conscious and long-lasting design, hand-made to be used for a long time. You won’t want to leave without purchasing their sophisticated tableware that will inspire non-stop chatting at your next dinner party.
Nestled in the famous neon-light district of Kabukicho is a 48-story “Entertainment Junction” called TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER that provides a never ending supply of fun so that you can play all day and night and never have to leave the hotel, enjoying the most of the Shinjuku area. Filled with movie theaters, playhouses, live music clubs, and many restaurants, TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER is near the largest gay area in Asia, Shinjuku 2-chome. For a taste of what TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER has to offer, look no further than the Shinjuku Kabuki Hall, an entertainment food hall that will transport you to Cyberpunk Tokyo. After a night of partying you can stay at one of the tower’s hotels, like Hotel Groove Shinjuku, A PARKROYAL Hotel that has craft gin bars, hip restaurants, and stunning artwork. And if you’re looking for panoramic views of the city, stay at BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel, which is just like Hotel Groove Shinjuku, an LGBTQ-friendly hotel affiliated with IGLTA.
From world-leading furniture design concepts you can take home with you to art museums that will have you questioning your senses, Tokyo really does have everything for all design enthusiasts. Keep these four destination hotspots in mind when designing your trip. You’ll find yourself lost in a world hand-crafted with impeccable craftsmanship and thoughtfully created with a future in mind that all of us can enjoy.
Discover more about Tokyo: tokyotokyo.jp
Official Tokyo Travel Guide: gotokyo.org/en
