"Extract from Mitchell's Blog - June 2007"
-for the latest info from Mitchell's blog click here
Tokyo Herf
I was getting a tad bored last week waiting around for all these
delightful new Havanas to be launched so I decided to spend the weekend in Tokyo
(!)
Yes, yes I know a bit of a schlep for the weekend but I can only bear being away
from my lovely wife (and her wonderful cooking) for a day or two... so a weekend
it was
I have never been to Tokyo before although traditionally C.Gars Ltd has always
had a large client base in Japan so this was as good a time as any.
My friend and smoking buddy Zaff came along for the trip and we arrived in
Narita airport on Friday morning after a first rate Virgin Atlantic flight (
well done Richard Branson! Shame he doesn't smoke cigars...as far as I
know)...turned my Orange cell phone on to find that it would not work as Japan
is on 3G and I was not ( travellers you have been warned!) rented a phone for
around tuppence a day.. problem solved.
The weather was sunny and hot and we smoked some excellent Partagas shorts
whilst waiting for our shuttle bus. Perfect smoke after a 12 hour flight
Checked into the delightful Sheraton Miyako hotel in the Minato -Ku area which
is best described as a high class business area of the city. The hotel was
splendid and the service and friendliness from the staff beyond compare.
In fact I must admit I have never come across such friendly and polite service
on any of my world travels as I found in Tokyo. Simply superb.
I was told that there are some 200 cigars bars throughout Japan which is
staggering. We headed to the M Bar in the Sheraton which is a cigar bar with
fabulous ambience and a decent range of cigars as well as first class service.
Drank some calvados an smoked a BBF.
Dinner at the Takanawa Prince Hotel was an incredible experience with friends
who kindly took us there. The chef prepared our meal on a hot plate in front of
us. Quite excellent. Dinner was followed by Ramon Allones Belicosos in the "Le
Connaisseur" cigar bar at the same hotel....a very cool cigar
shop...humidor...and lounge bar. Highly recommended.
We relaxed with our friend Yagi-san at his wonderful cigar bar, called Bar
Bridge on Saturday evening, enjoying some P2's and drinking some rather old
Scotch. (thank you!)
Bar Bridge looks like a traditional English cigar divan, leather couches, dim
lights, lots of very very cool cigar memorabilia. Without doubt my favourite
cigar bar in Tokyo. Oh! and the owner speaks excellent English and is a rather
knowledgeable cigar merchant so it's really a pleasure to "hang out"
We went on to "Maduro" cigar bar at the Grand Hyatt Hotel to listen to some live
jazz ( why does jazz go so well with cigars? !) This was one BIG cigar lounge!
Smoked some old Monte 2's matched up with my favourite Bilecart salmon
champagne...does life get any better?... ummmm... no don't think so:-) ...oh
hold on it does, I forgot to mention the line of cars outside the hotel
....Ferrari 430, Rolls Silver Cloud, Lamborghini Murcielago amongst other
Supercars
Thanks to my Japanese friends for such a lovely weekend..
Mitch, Zaff Mrs Yagi and Monica
at Bar Bridge cigar bar
Mitch, Zaff and friends at
the Le Connaisseur cigar bar