Café 1894 is located in the restored Mitsubishi Ichigokan, a historic building constructed in 1894 - yes, this is where the café gets its name from. Since April 2010, the historic building that was once a bank now operates as the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Art Museum. The retro atmosphere of this old, beautiful building makes Café 1894 a wonderful place to start your day. With lights that were originally used as gas lamps and glass partitions that were used back when the building was still a bank, it feels like stepping back in time! Reservations are also possible after 6:00 p.m., with the last order being 10:00 p.m. The menu of the café also adapts to the current exhibitions, so look forward to themed dishes and beverages!

Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (last order at 10:00 p.m.)
Closed: always open

Another gourmet spot that makes for a wonderful breakfast, lunch, or coffee break is the fruit parlor Kajitsuen. This delightful café can be found inside the so-called Kitchen Street inside of the massive Tokyo Station.
Our warmest recommendation is the Fruit Parfait (1,188 yen), Kajitsuen's most characteristic menu item. It is made with plenty of fresh, seasonal fruits that are rich in taste and wonderfully convey the flavors of the season.
Besides the famous parfait, look forward to a large variety of reasonably priced sweets and desserts, such as the pancakes with almost 10 kinds of different fruits (1,166 yen) or the fruit punch (918 yen).

Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (last order at 9:30 p.m.)
Closed: always open

Marunouchi Reading Style is a tastefully furnished bookstore offering an intriguing, choice selection of literature, sure to pique your interests, no matter where those lie. Merely browsing the many books is an experience that is as relaxing as interesting.
The bookstore area includes a cafe that allows you to read a book before deciding whether you should purchase it or not. Kick back in an open, bright space with a broad window facade and enjoy a healthy snack with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sundays, national holidays: 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (open until 9:00 p.m. on days before national holidays)
Closed: always open (closed when KITTE is closed)

The Japan Gourmet Street is part of First Avenue Tokyo Station and is home to numerous shops and stalls offering local goods. One of them is Toyama Shiroebitei, a shop that specializes in white shrimp, known as "The Jewel of Toyama Bay." Another wonderful example of regional delicacies is the sushi bar Tachigui Sushi Kantaro, one of the most popular restaurants in Hokkaido's Hakodate. If you want to savor local dishes, sake, and more, the Japan Gourmet Street is the place to go!

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (varies by shop)
Closed: always open

Gransta Marunouchi is a shopping center that opened in the summer of 2016 on the underground floor just outside of Tokyo Station. Various shops can be found inside: Nippon Department Store offers a fun selection of miscellaneous goods from all over Japan, and SHARED TOKYO is a new brand by the hand towel specialty store Kamawanu, selling wonderful gifts and souvenirs. Neustadt Brüder is a stationery shop that features unique train-themed goods only available at this Tokyo Station location. No matter what kind of thing you're looking for, we're sure that you will find something that strikes your fancy at Gransta Marunouchi!

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (until 9:00 p.m. on Sundays and the last day of consecutive holidays)
Hours may vary by shop.
Closed: always open

The Wadakura Fountain Park is right in front of the Imperial Palace and was constructed in 1961 to celebrate the marriage of the present Emperor of Japan. When the Crown Prince got married in 1995, it was further improved and a large fountain was added. The jets of water are shot up to a height of 8.5 meters, a sight that is as impressive as it is relaxing. A massive waterfall of 5.5 meters high and 30 meters long is also part of the fountain. At night, the water scenery is dipped in beautiful lights and listening to the constant, calming gurgling of water, you might just forget time for a little while.
A restaurant inside the park offers a lunch buffet and a tea time menu, making for a great spot to relax from shopping and sightseeing.

The Tokyo Station Gallery was renewed at the same time as the Tokyo Station building. Inside the refined, classic building utilizes a design of white cubes, while also making excellent use of the classic, old red brick walls. The chandelier of the old gallery hangs in the octagonal staircase that winds along those walls, representing the glamor of days long past.
The museum shop TRAINIART offers numerous original goods, focused on architecture and trains. From mugs to keyrings, the various simple yet chic items make for excellent souvenirs of Tokyo Station.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays)
※last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)

The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Art Museum sits at the west crossing of the Tokyo International Forum, easily identified by its beautiful red brick exterior. It was originally constructed as an office building in 1894, then entirely restored and eventually reopened in the spring of 2010. A British architect called Josiah Conder designed the impressive building, and today's Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is a faithful restoration of the original, recreated using old photos and original plans of the architect.
Next to the exhibitions themselves, the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum has many points of interest waiting to be discovered. In spring, about 40 different kinds of roses are beautifully blooming in the museum's gardens, offering a calm oasis in the heart of Tokyo.
The exhibitions of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum mainly focus on modern art of the 19th and early 20th century, the same time in which the building was designed and constructed. Exhibitions are held three times a year.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Open until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays (except national holidays), the second Wednesday of each month, the last weekday of an exhibition

The Sky Bus is the best choice for anyone who cannot get enough of Tokyo's breathtakingly beautiful night sceneries. The "Odaiba Night View Course" starts at Marunouchi and takes you along all the iconic night sights of the Japanese capital: Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, and Odaiba. Gazing at the big city lights from the open two-story is sure to create wonderful and unique memories of your Tokyo trip!

Odaiba Night View Course
Fee: 2,100 yen
Date: daily (until September 30, 2017)
Departure: 18:30
Duration: around 120 minutes (with a 60 minute break at Odaiba AquaCity)

The Tokyo Station building is a designated important cultural asset of Japan. Its characteristic dome roof and red brick walls can best be enjoyed from the rooftop garden of KITTE, a big commercial facility right next to the station. Watch Japan's famous bullet trains arriving to and leaving from the iconic station, and be enchanted by the sight of the lit-up station building after the sun has set. The contrast between the historic structure and the skyscrapers towering to its left and right is representative for Japan's famous fusion of tradition and modernity. (Tokyo Station is lit up until 9:00 p.m.)
The KITTE Garden itself is lush with greenery, offering a quiet and refreshing space to relax and take in the night view of the city. Get to know a different side of the heart of Tokyo.

Hours:
Shops: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (until 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and national holidays)
Restaurants: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (until 10:00 p.m. on Sundays and national holidays)
Hours may vary by shop.

Rooftop Garden:
11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (until 10:00 p.m. on Sundays and national holidays)

Closed: January 1, legal inspection day

Writer: Haruko Nemoto

Top photo credit: KenSoftTH / Shutterstock.com