Roppongi

The Basics

The project that was most significant in changing the face of Roppongi was Roppongi Hills, a behemoth modern shopping and entertainment complex housed at the base of Mori Tower that opened in 2003. As well as upscale stores and restaurants, Roppongi Hills is home to the Mori Art Museum and Tokyo City View, a viewing platform with 360-degree views from 820 feet (250 meters) above ground. Elsewhere in Roppongi, you’ll also find a second entertainment and shopping complex (Tokyo Midtown) and the National Art Center Tokyo. The area includes a sizable collection of international restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Your options for guided tours of the area include (as you might expect) fun-filled pub crawls, which usually include free drinks at the bars you hop through. Other options include taking a relaxed bicycle tour or a scholar-led architecture walking tour that points out Roppongi’s examples of superflat art and Japonism design.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Roppongi is a must-visit for those wanting a slice of Tokyo nightlife.

• The area also has a lot of appeal for art and architecture lovers.

• In the past, Roppongi had a reputation for danger. It’s much different now, and the main annoyances are persistent touts trying to get you into their clubs.

• The movie theater in Roppongi Hills is a high-tech, futuristic experience: Some screens are MX4D.

How to Get There

Roppongi station is served by both Tokyo Metro (the Hibiya line) and Toei Subway (Oedo line). The Metro Hibiya line directly connects to other areas of interest to travelers such as Ginza, Ueno, and Akihabara. Roppongi is also within easy walking distance of Aoyama, Azabu Juban, and Hiroo.

When to Get There

Roppongi’s nightlife scene starts late—usually close to midnight—and rages on until the early morning when the first trains begin to run (around 5am) and take revelers back home. Every night is bustling, but Fridays nights, when workers finish for the week, are the liveliest.

A Popular Hangout

At the bottom of Keyakizaka-dori, Tsutaya Tokyo Roppongi bookstore is open 21 hours a day, making it a popular hangout for revelers waiting for the first train home and others whiling away daytime hours. The bookstore focuses on photography, architecture, and design and allows you to read the books at leisure in the adjacent Starbucks. Look for discount flyers here for the Mori Art Museum and other local attractions.

Ways to explore

As well as upscale stores and restaurants, Roppongi Hills is home to the Mori Art Museum and Tokyo City View, a viewing platform with 360-degree views from 820 feet (250 meters) above the ground. For more entertainment and shopping, head to the Tokyo Midtown complex. For art, there's the National Art Center Tokyo. You’ll also find many international restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Explore the area independently or on a fun-filled pub crawl (which usually includes drinks), on a relaxed bicycle tour, or on a scholar-led architecture walking tour.

Accessibility

The attractions in Roppongi are accommodating for visitors with mobility issues, with elevators and accessible restrooms available.

Age limits

Although the area has a reputation for being a bit seedy at night, it's fine to visit with kids in the day.

What to pack

Small bag, hand sanitizer, reusable shopping bags

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, light jacket for air-conditioned attractions (even in summer)

Not allowed

Eating while walking is generally frowned on in Japan—find somewhere to sit before you snack.

Amenities

Shopping malls, restaurants, restrooms

Address

Roppongi is a central Tokyo neighborhood that’s well-connected to the rest of the city by underground rail.

Driving

Driving is inadvisable as Roppongi is one of central Tokyo’s busiest areas. If you must drive, paid parking facilities are available at Roppongi Hills and elsewhere.

Public transportation

Roppongi station is served by both the Tokyo Metro (Hibiya line) and Toei Subway (Oedo line). The Metro Hibiya line directly connects to other areas of interest throughout Tokyo. If you’re heading to any specific Roppongi attractions, check which station exit to take to avoid getting lost.

Best times to visit

Roppongi’s art galleries and observation decks are typically open throughout the day and late into the evening, so you can visit them before heading out for dinner and drinks.

Best days to visit

Tickets to some of the area’s attractions are more expensive on weekends, so visit midweek if you can.

Best months to visit

You can visit year-round, but to enjoy the best views from the observation decks, December–February offer the clearest skies in Tokyo.

Special events

Roppongi Hills hosts a European-style Christmas Market and holiday light displays from late November through December.