Tokyo/Shiodome
Shiodome (汐留) is a district of the Minato ward of central Tokyo, Japan.
Understand
One of the newest quarters of the city, almost entirely built after 2000, Shiodome has been transformed from a derelict railway cargo terminal to a miniature city of skyscrapers. Parts of the area still remain under construction but most is now open.
Name
The name "Shiodome" is pronounced /ʃí:.ə.dò.meɪ/ in English & spelt "しおどめ" in Hiragana. It means keeping out the tide in Japanese & does not refer to a dome.
Get in
Shiodome is directly accessible via Shiodome station on the Yurikamome new transit and Toei O-Edo subway lines. The bigger train hub of Shinbashi, on the JR Yamanote line, is also within easy walking distance. All buildings are connected together by an underground concourse and a web of walkways.
See
- 1 Advertising Museum Tokyo (広告とマーケティングの資料館, kōkoku to maketingu no shiryōkan), B1F Caretta Shiodome, Higashi-Shinbashi 1-8-2. Tu-Sa 11AM-6:30PM. A small modern museum of the history of advertising in Japan, run by Japan's biggest ad company Dentsu. Probably the most interesting section is war-time propaganda, with posters exhorting the populace to grow pumpkins and apply for permits before listening to the radio. Most exhibits annotated in English. Free.
- 2 Old Shinbashi Railway Station (旧新橋停車場). This faithful reconstruction of the Tokyo terminus of Japan's first railway is built on the site of the original and even showcases the few remaining bits. The inside, however, is now given over to several expensive restaurants and cafés.
- 3 Shiodome Museum (汐留ミュージアム), 4F National Center. This small museum has only a tiny permanent collection, but houses changing exhibitions.
- 4 Dentsu Shiki Theater (電通四季劇場). A theater in the Caretta shiodome were musicals play.
Do
Buy
The largest shopping complex in Shiodome is Caretta Shiodome.
- Sho-Chu Authority, B2F Caretta Shiodome. 11AM-10PM daily. This humbly named shop stocks over 3,000 varieties of the Japanese tipples shochu and awamori.
- 1 Nittele Shop, B1F-B2F Nippon Television Tower. Stocks a vast variety of TV-related goods; much will be unfamiliar to the non-resident, but there's a pretty good selection of Studio Ghibli items too.
- 2 Shiodome City Center. Glass tower full of trendy restaurants and shops.
Eat
Caretta Shiodome has two sections dedicated to eating: Canyon Terrace (1-3F), for lighter café-style eats, and Sky Restaurants (46-47F), for gourmet dining with views of Tokyo Bay. If these aren't enough there's another dozen restaurants in the main mall's B2F.
Mid-range
- Din Tai Fung (ディンタイフォン, 鼎泰豐), B2F Caretta Shiodome. 11AM-10PM daily. The Tokyo flagship of the popular Taiwanese dim sum chain.
Drink
- Saryō Tsuriji (茶寮都路理), B2F Caretta Shiodome. This massively popular tea shop usually has long queues waiting to sample its high-end green teas and delicate Japanese confectionery. An easier and cheaper alternative is to grab a cone of tea-flavored ice cream (¥300) from the adjoining shop, available in green tea and roasted hōjicha flavors.
Sleep
Mid-range
- Villa Fontaine Shiodome, 1-9-2 Higashi Shinbashi, ☏ +81 3-3569222. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Giant four-star hotel. All rooms equipped with internet. ¥10,000 for a single.
Splurge
- Conrad Tokyo, 1-9-1 Higashi-Shinbashi, ☏ +81 3-6388-8000. The latest contestant for the heavily competed title of most expensive hotel in Tokyo. Rooms start from a whopping ¥52,000.
- Park Hotel Tokyo, Shiodome Media Tower, 1-7-1, Higashi Shimbashi, ☏ +81 3-6252-1111. If the Park were any more minimalist, it wouldn't be here at all. This sky-high establishment boasts a light and airy foyer, with inviting lounge and restaurant adjoining. Rooms start from ¥19,500 single.