Where to stay The plush new Conrad Tokyo offers a panoramic view of Tokyo Bay and the exquisite Hamarikyu Garden — the city’s favourite site for viewing cherry blossoms, Japan’s national flower. For a little slap and tickle, check into the Hotel New Akasaka, the most sybaritic and luxurious love hotel in Tokyo. Designed like a 17th-century pleasure house, the hotel inspires guests to role-play in traditional samurai and courtesan costumes.

Where to shop Harajuku, girl! The high priestesses of Japanese
fashion worship at Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons store. Japan’s version of Alexander McQueen, 31-year-old Toshikazu Iwaya holds court at Dress Camp with extravagant purple, yellow and turquoise skirts, grey silk cropped jackets and ultra-shiny scarlet-and-silver motorcycle helmets.

Where to dine With some nine Michelin stars to his name, superchef Alain Ducasse’s discreetly splendiferous Beige Tokyo, on the 10th floor of the Ginza Chanel Building, lets affluent gourmands savour such dishes as delicate velouté of kegani crab and sea scallops with sautéed black truffles. Le Jardin de Tweed, the Chanel-themed rooftop terrace, is the perfect spot to sip a flute of Paul Drouet Champagne, Special Reserve Alain Ducasse, and admire Tokyo’s chic Ginza district from on high.

Where to graze Gonpachi — a rustic izakaya (a Japanese bar or restaurant) — was the inspiration for the restaurant scene in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, where Uma Thurman takes on the entire Japanese underworld. Chase down the wasabi duck and stuffed shiitake mushrooms with ice-cold Kirin beer.

Already been to Tokyo? Check out ELLE’s travels to Kyoto!

Courtesy Conrad Tokyo
Where to gaze The New York Grill & Bar, on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, is where Bill’s character met Scarlett’s in Lost in Translation. Stars such as Jude Law and Robert De Niro like to network here, while locals sip LITs — a potent blend of sake, sakura, and peach and cherry blossom liqueurs.

Where to blaze Go to La Fabrique, a dinner-and-dance club, for house, jazz and electro.

Where to go down in flames Who would have thought that the best after-hours club in Tokyo — ageHa — is a warehouse in the burbs? Lagoon Nights are wet and wild, thanks to an on-site swimming pool.

Courtesy Conrad Tokyo