She calls Melbourne home but business – and a perennial love of travel – has taken the fashion designer to Tokyo at least twice a year for the past four years. “I love the rituals, the ceremonies and the sense that nothing is ever done without consideration.” Here, she shares her picks of the Japanese capital. 

BEST HOTEL

Hotel Century Southern Tower 

“What I love about this hotel is that you can eat on the 20th floor, look down to the city and watch the happenings of the day; you can see a whole company out doing their exercises on the rooftops before they start work. It’s also close to one of my favourite stores, Tokyu Hands.”

2-2-1 Yoyogi, Shibuyaku 

BEST BREAKFAST SPOT

Isetan  

“When I’m working, I always go to Isetan department store, buy my breakfast at the food hall and eat it in the centre’s planted rooftop garden.” 

3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 

BEST BAR

Goblin  

“Generally when you go out it can be all plum wine and sake but Goblin has a great selection of European wines, too. They also serve fusion food, which  is a little unusual. It’s Japanese with a French twist.”

2-13-19 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku 

BEST RESTAURANT

Masuda      

“Masuda is very discreet; it’s underground. It only seats  six people and you watch the sushi master create everything  in front of you. The last time I went I probably had 20 individually prepared pieces  so the experience goes for  two hours.”

B1F BC Minami-Aoyama Property, 5−8−11 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku 

BEST BOUTIQUES

Super A Market and Land of Tomorrow  

“I have two favourites: Super  A Market and Land of Tomorrow. Super A Market is intimate; it’s designer level but its selection feels more street. It has everything from Marni to Dries Van Noten so it’s international but quite quirky as well. Land of Tomorrow is small and niche. It doesn’t have many pieces from each designer; just a beautifully curated collection for men and women.”

3-18-9 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku 
1F Marunouchi Brick Square (Park Building), 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku

BEST PARK

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden  

“This is just such a peaceful  oasis in the middle of the Shinjuku shopping area.”

11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku-ku 

BEST SURPRISE

Robot Restaurant    

“This crazy place is kitsch on top of kitsch. You’re served alcohol and a bento box for dinner, while you watch girls dressed in scanty robot-themed costumes simulate battles between actual 10-metre-tall robots. Everything is lit up – the floor, the ceiling – and animation is projected onto the walls. It’s a completely psychedelic experience.”

B2F Shinjuku Robot Building, 1-7-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku 

BEST EXPERIENCE

The opening ceremony at Isetan food hall each morning 

“I make a point of going to Isetan department store for their opening ceremony in the morning. A man announces that the doors are opening, makes  a speech, bows and opens the door. If you’re the first one to enter the food hall, everyone who works there bows in  a row as you walk in. It’s great to witness the peace and civility before the maddening rush that soon begins.”  

3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 

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