It’s been over a full year since the pandemic forced international travel to a grinding halt, and wanderlust-stricken Singaporeans are looking left, right and centre to fill that void. Japan pretty much ranks #1 on the list of countries we can’t wait to visit once travel resumes. But till then, these “Japanese” activities at Suntec City will do nicely to tide you over.
From an extensive Japanese food street and exclusive fashion and beauty retailers to anime merch stores which will delight your inner otaku, make a full-day outing to Suntec City and immerse yourself in a proper faux holiday experience.
One of the greatest things about travelling is sampling the sumptuous cuisines, authentically made by local chefs who cook with love. While we may not be able to saunter down restaurant alleys in Tokyo and Hokkaido anytime soon, Eat At Seven (Level 3) is able to whisk you to an authentic Japantown experience, even if it’s just for a few hours.
Yakisoba and modanyaki from Tsuruhashi Fugetsu (Sky Garden, #03-316)
So-named because it houses a whopping seven different eateries conveniently within the same zone, Eat At Seven makes for an all-encompassing gastronomical adventure for all Japanese cuisine foodies.
Tan Tan Men from Menya KoKoro (Sky Garden, #03-313)
Each of the eateries specialise in particular well-loved Japanese dishes, namely:
Tip: Because there’s just so many eateries to choose from, we recommend coming with your date, friends or family so you all can have a little sample of everything, before moving onto the next eatery. Think of it as a feasting itinerary, if you will.
As if having an entire food street within the mall wasn’t enough, Suntec City also houses numerous other Japanese restaurants and cafes. Yes, Japanese cuisine lovers are probably squealing in anticipation right now.
They’ve got the famous Sukiya (East Wing, #01-647) gyudon beef rice bowl which is highly raved, Shabu Sai (Fountain Court, #B1-133) for Japanese hotpot, Hoshino Coffee (East Wing, #01-651) for quaint desserts and hearty brews, and heaps more.
Located right smack at the entrance of East Wing is Sushiro (#01-649), Japan’s hot favourite conveyor belt sushi chain which has made waves since its Singapore debut.
The dishes are priced according to the plate colour, from wallet-friendly $2.20 red plates to premium $4.80 black plates. In true #TreatYoSelf spirit, we recommend splurging on the black plate Bluefin Fatty Tuna – very plump, juicy and marbled.
If you’re hankering for some meat instead, Aburi-EN (West Wing, #B1-121) is the place to be. They specialise in “aburi” a.k.a. flame-grilled meat, so you can expect gloriously torched and caramelised slivers of chestnut pork and Japan No.1 Miyazaki A4/5 wagyu beef, sporting just the right amount of smokey char.
You can also toast to a good meal with their Jim Beam Fruity Highballs, available in eight flavours: yuzu, peach, orange, cranberry, lime, mango, apple and pineapple
Demon Slayer figurines from La Tendo
Hardcore manga and anime fans trawl Singapore to ulu corners in search of authentic merchandise, but you can save yourself the trouble by simply heading down to Suntec City instead. You’ll be able to shop in air-conditioned comfort at multiple well-stocked stores, suitable for seasoned otakus and new fans alike.
La Tendo (East Wing, #03-354) is a well-known retailer within the local anime scene, as it carries a huge range of merch, collectibles and toys. Everything is licensed and 100% authentic, so none of that dodgy knock-off stuff to worry about.
Sift through accessories like badges and EZ-Link charms, figurines of all sizes, and even chic apparel from your fave comics and animation series, including the wildly popular Naruto, One Piece and Demon Slayer.
Aptly named Otaku House (North Wing, #02-475), you’ll be able to find adorable plush toys, wearable anime-inspired gear like socks and face masks, and activity kits like Nanoblocks here. This is on top of the regular anime gear, of course – including figurines, toys and collectibles.
Besides being a great place to browse through for yourself, Otaku House is also a foolproof destination if you’re gift-shopping for a diehard anime lover. Whether you’re presenting them with cute Pokémon Nanoblock sets or a Studio Ghibli plushie, you won’t have to wrack your brains too much to get them the perfect present.
Besides sight-seeing and non-stop eating, Singaporeans also flock to Japan to do some serious retail therapy. Till the day we get to set foot on the shopping districts of Shibuya, Ginza and Harajuku, Suntec City will be able to satisfy your Japanese fashion and beauty shopping needs.
Popular brands you can expect include Welcia-BHG (East Wing, #01-610), Fancl (West Wing, #01-322), OWNDAYS (North Wing, #02-465), Onitsuka Tiger (North Wing, #01-451) and of course, Singaporeans’ all-time favourite – UNIQLO (West Wing, #01-382).
The famed MOTHERHOUSE (West Wing, #01-372) brand is known for its carefully handcrafted range of bags and accessories made from premium leather. There’s no mistaking the quality of the materials that go into each buttery-soft piece, and the delicate craftsmanship to ensure that every last stitch is perfect.
Their offerings come in an array of sizes, from spacious handbags to store all your barang barang to sleek clutch wallets. We recommend getting the unique animal-shaped purses if you’re a wildlife lover – they’re available in the forms of guinea pig, rabbit, cow, elephant and more, and are definite conversation-starters.
Although TOKYU HANDS (West Wing, #02-306) is well-loved for its wide range of cutesy stationery and household goods, they also carry tons of beauty products. Think toiletries, cosmetics, and exclusive skincare and makeup brands you won’t be able to find anywhere else in Singapore.
Keep a lookout for seasonal promos like their current sakura range, where you can pick up sakura-themed bath bombs, facial mask packs and self-care kits that are super aesthetic and great as gifts.
On top of letting you eat well and look good, Suntec City also has certified Japanese wellness centres that’ll rid you of physiological woes.
Dr.stretch (West Wing, #02-323) is a godsend not only for athletes and those who lead highly active lifestyles, but sedentary office workers who are plagued by neck, shoulder and back pains as well. As the name suggests, skilled trainers will be giving your body a thorough stretch to loosen stiff joints and soothe tired muscles.
They’ve got over 140 branches worldwide, of which 120 are in Japan. If it works for busy bees in Japan who are renowned for clocking in astounding hours at the office, we’re sure it’ll work for us OT warriors and WFH champs.
If it’s posture issues that have got you down, give MJG Japanese Body Therapy Pim Balance (East Wing, #02-612) a visit. Also an established clinic chain back in its home country, their one and only Singapore outpost makes use of gentle and pain-free physical therapy techniques to restore posture alignment.
This is ideal for folks who are constantly slouching over while working, or have a natural hunchback. Besides posture correction treatments, they also have muscle coordination programmes, inner muscle treatments, and a postpartum pelvic correction procedure specially tailored for new mums. Find out more in our full MJG Japanese Body Therapy review.
Now that you’ve got plenty of ideas for your mini Japan getaway at Suntec City, we’ve got some good news: through all your shopping, dining and wellness service expenditure within the mall, you’ll also be racking up plenty of rewards.
Make sure you’ve downloaded the free Suntec+ app so you can register as a member and earn Suntec+ Points, which can be used to redeem rewards.
On top of Suntec+ points, you get to receive these additional perks when you spend and redeem in the mall from 9th-25th April 2021. Head to any customer service counter within the mall within 48 hours of your spending to redeem the following perks:
If you’re not already a DBS/POSB credit card member, sign up for a DBS/POSB Credit Card with the promo code DBSSUN and get $250 cashback with min. spend of $800, applicable within a 60-day period from date of card approval. Find out more about the DBS/POSB x Suntec City cashback promo.
To make the deal sweeter on weekdays, you can also earn double Suntec+ Points from Monday to Friday. Simply upload your receipts with a min. spend of $20 onto the Suntec+ app to earn the points. Receipts have to be between 12AM on Monday and 11.59PM on Friday.
If you’re still in need of more incentive to head on down, how does a discounted Grab ride sound? Be chauffeured straight to the mall’s doorstep in style and comfort, with $3 off a Grab ride to Suntec City using the promo code SUNTEC. Applicable 10AM-10PM daily, so you can enjoy the transport savings whether you want to catch dinner after work or a relaxing weekend brunch.
*All promotions are available on a while stocks last basis.
There’s no denying just how badly Singaporeans miss being able to fly to Japan. While international travel doesn’t seem to be that close on the horizon, these Japanese activities at Suntec City help to bring a slice of Japan that much closer to us.
To make the most out of your Japanese adventure, we suggest setting aside ample time to frolic through the many shopping, dining and wellness establishments conveniently situated under one roof.
Otherwise, there’s nothing that’ll perk up your spirits quite like a midday Japanese feast plus quick shopping trip after work, or a rejuvenating massage and physiotherapy session to have you feeling energised for the daily grind.
Suntec City
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: 10AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 6266 1502
This post was brought to you by Suntec City.
Photography by Pichan Cruz.
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