A wonderful time

Make the most of autumn in Tokyo

October 2020 Industry Perspectives / Text by Toby Waters

Autumn in Tokyo is a time to enjoy the cooler days and longer nights, and also to try a wide range of seasonal foods and activities. Japan’s capital has something for everyone during this wonderful time of year — whether you want to go shopping, get your child settled in a school, or have a night out on the town.

Autumn term
No matter the season, it’s always a good time to consider what is best for your child’s education.

Under the guidance of Musashino University, Chiyoda International School Tokyo, known as CHIST, opened its elementary school in April 2018. Its middle and high schools were opened in April 2019, and it became an International Baccalaureate diploma programme school this year. CHIST’s advantage in being a new school is that it offers a fresh, energetic approach to education, making it a compelling choice for parents. It educates and empowers students from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

Even young ones have plenty to keep them occupied at this time of year.

This autumn, expand your child’s imagination, creativity, and communication skills at Gymboree’s Mommy & Me, preschool, and/or after school classes. Gymboree’s play-based programmes focus on building children’s social, cognitive, and physical skills, as well as their self-esteem, helping them to grow into confident, happy, and successful learners. Whether your child enjoys art, music, or sports, Gymboree offers a number of exciting classes for them to explore. Don’t miss the Fall Campaign, ending on 31 October.

Home comforts
As it starts to get colder — and we are facing the prospect of spending even more time at home — it is a good time to consider how to make our home offices more efficient and comfortable.

More people are working from home than ever, and companies are increasingly embracing this model — so it’s time to get serious about your home office layout! USM Haller furniture combines the functionality of office furniture with the aesthetics of a design icon, providing an efficient and elegant workstation in your home, which can even fit into small spaces. It’s worth taking the time to rethink and reorganise your home office, and we offer some simple and practical advice on how best to do this.

Eat, drink, and be merry
Since it’s harvest time, autumn is the perfect season to indulge in delicious food and drink. Tokyo has a wealth of great options.

In 1977, Robert Linxe brought the spirit of Parisian haute couture to chocolate when he created La Maison du Chocolat. Today, this unique spirit remains as vibrant as ever, perpetuated and brilliantly re-interpreted for a modern clientele by Master Chef Nicolas Cloiseau. Upon entering our boutiques in Tokyo or Osaka — or visiting our online store — you will discover an iconic universe that reflects the timeless, inimitable chic of Paris. Beyond the flavours, the emotions sparked by the beauty of each of our chocolates elevates them with a consummate elegance.

The popularity of Tokyo’s craft beer scene has grown significantly in recent years. For many, bars serving seasonal and specialty brews have gone from a rare treat to a first-choice spot for a great night out.

BrewDog Bar Roppongi boasts 22 taps pouring the tastiest craft beer from Europe, America, and Japan. The food menu — which can be found on the BrewDog website — has been carefully curated to complement the abundance of flavours of its amazing beers. The bar is family-friendly until 7:00pm, and dogs are always welcome.

If you prefer to enjoy a glass of wine in the comfort of your own home, it’s worth considering how your glassware affects your favourite tipple.

Founded in Austria more than 265 years ago, Riedel creates glassware that enhances the flavour of wine. Visit the tasting bar at Riedel’s Ginza store to learn how the size and shape of your glass can elevate your wine-drinking experience. Available at the Ginza store is the HAKU range of glasses, exclusive to Japan, which has been produced using 400-year-old Kanazawa Haku glassmaking techniques, as well as the Riedel-Merandi collection, decorated with Swarovski crystal.

Take advantage of the season to discover the best Tokyo has to offer before the winter chill sets in.