The Best Spots in Chūō Ward, Tokyo,According to an Expert
Kenji Iiyama Rieko Omura
Royal Park Hotel
Conveniently located just steps from Suitengumae Station and approximately 10 minutes by car from Tokyo Station, our hotel offers an ideal setting for both business and leisure. The elegant blend of traditional Japanese and Western design, along with a variety of dining options in our lounges and restaurants, makes it a perfect place to enjoy a quality experience.
- web site
- https://www.rph.co.jp/
- address
- 2-1-1 Kakigaracho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku
- telephone number
- 03-3667-1111
Ningyocho Shopping Street and Nihonbashi Shichifukujin (Seven Lucky Gods of Nihonbashi)
Ningyocho, among the many areas named after Nihonbashi, is perhaps the most notable and attracts many visitors. Since its opening in 1989, the Royal Park Hotel has built strong relationships with the people of the Ningyocho shopping district and has continued efforts to introduce the local shops to our hotel guests. However, we realized something at one point: when international guests visited the shopping district, they couldn’t communicate in English, and the menus written in Japanese made it difficult for them to make choices. So, at that time, our senior staff members went around all the shops and created English menus to help bridge the gap.
Given the history of collaboration with the shopping district, we began thinking about what we could do now. Currently, we are working on a service where showing a hotel room key allows guests to receive special benefits at various shops. With the cooperation of many shop owners, each shop has prepared unique benefits for customers. We have created a leaflet which is handed out to guests at the front desk. This allows guests to compare the different benefits offered by each shop and check the locations of the shops on a map.
What we hope for is not just for people to go out and enjoy food tours in Ningyocho. We want them to engage with the shop owners, interact with them, and experience their personalities. Perhaps because many of the shop owners are individuals, they never seem bothered even if a customer stays for a long time. While speaking in English may not always be understood, the owners will still respond earnestly. They might even try to get by with a pun or two to keep the conversation going. Walking through Ningyocho, peeking into interesting shops, and interacting with the shop owners can become a valuable activity during a stay in Tokyo.
Walking through the shopping streets filled with delicious treats like ningyo-yaki, taiyaki, senbei, croquettes, manju, and soft ice cream feels like being in a food lover’s paradise. As your stomach fills up, you might suddenly notice the presence of a shrine, which marks the start of the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage. There are no specific rules regarding the starting point or the order in which to visit the shrines, so feel free to take a leisurely stroll, enjoying the atmosphere of the downtown area. One thing to note is that each shrine is not very large and can sometimes be nestled between houses or buildings. While praying for longevity, protection from misfortune, and good luck, feel free to wander and explore at your own pace.
Ningyocho Shopping Street and Nihonbashi Shichifukujin (Seven Lucky Gods of Nihonbashi)