15 Things to Do in Roppongi
One of the popular spots in the Tokyo area is Roppongi! Food, culture, architecture and every kind of restaurant and more can be found in Roppongi. It’s an international area where many Japanese and foreign people gather. With Roppongi Hills as the focus, here are 15 recommended things to do there.
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1. The National Art Center, Tokyo
The National Art Center Tokyo has the largest exhibition space in the country. It’s Japan’s 5th national art museum with many diverse exhibitions. The impressive building is based off architect Kisho Kurokawa’s design with the theme “Art museum in the middle of a forest” so there are over 50 varieties of plants and vegetation that you can enjoy. The museum’s logo and banner was handled by Mr. Kashiwa Sao.
Business Hours 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
HP: www.nact.jp/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
2. Roppongi Hills Viewing Platform Tokyo City View
On the 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, you’ll find the Roppongi Hills Viewing Platform, Tokyo City View. The facility is equipped with an indoor viewing gallery which is located 250 meters above sea level and the Skydeck rooftop which is located 270 meters above sea level. If the weather is clear, you can see as far as Mt. Fuji and the Boso Peninsula and at night you can see the night view of Tokyo. The Skydeck is a unique space where you can experience the wind and the sky.
Business Hours: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm (Friday/Saturday/Holidays until 1 am)
Fee: General admission ¥1,800, High schoolers ¥1,200, 4 - middle school ¥600, Seniors ¥1,500.
HP: www.roppongihills.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 52nd Floor, 6-11-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
3. Mori Art Museum
The Mori Art Museum located on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower stands 230m above ground and its gallery space design was done by internationally celebrated architect Mr Richard Gluckman. The iron and glass building with eye-catching accents of sandstone is centered around modern Asian art and notable exhibits are held one after the other.
HP: www.mori.art.museum/eng/index.html
HP: www.mori.art.museum/jp/index.html (Japanese Only)
Address: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 53rd Floor, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
4. TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI
Opened in 2003, TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI is a place where you can enjoy books and café. They have a substantial selection of art and fine-art related magazines. They have a joint partnership with Starbucks so you can pass the time drinking coffee while you browse through books. They also hold lots of events like talk shows.
Business hours: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
HP: store-tsutaya.tsite.jp/storelocator/detail/2000.html (Japanese Only)
Address: Roppongi HIlls Roppongi Keyakizakadori, 6-11-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
5. Roppongi Yokocho *Close
One of the largest in the country! “Roppongi Yokocho” has delicious food and meat dishes from all over the world available at 20 unique stores. In addition to the modern atmosphere, it’s a dining area with stores that offer a wide variety of foods like yakiniku, teppanyaki, kushiage, steak, sushi, curry, gyoza, takoyaki and Okinawan food.
Business Hours: Monday - Thursdays/Sundays/National Holidays 5:00pm to late at night, Fridays/Saturdays 5:00pm to 5:00am the next day.
HP: yokocho.tokyo/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1F Roa Roppongi, 5-5-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
6. Snoopy Museum *Close
The “Snoopy Museum” is the Holy Land for Snoopy fans and the world’s first satellite museum for Charles M. Schulz. You can see “Peanuts” original pictures, works from Charles M. Schulz’s early days, valuable vintage goods and more. Also, one of the best highlights is the 60 original pictures chosen by Schulz’s wife which available for public viewing for the first time.
Business hours: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tickets: [Advance sales] General - ¥1800, University students - ¥1200, Middle & High school students - ¥800, Age 4 ~ Elementary school - ¥400.
[Same day sales] General - ¥2000, University students - ¥1400, Middle & High school students - ¥1000, Age 4 ~ Elementary school - ¥600.
HP: www.snoopymuseum.tokyo/en/
HP: www.snoopymuseum.tokyo/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 5-6-20, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
7. Izumo Shrine Tokyobunshi
Not only is it famous as a shrine for the god of matchmaking, it was introduced in the Nihon-shoki and the Records of Ancient Matters (Japan’s oldest historical records) it also shares the same deity with the Izumo Taisha shrine in Shimane prefecture, making it Izumo Taisha Tokyo Bunshi. The deity that it shares is one of the country’s most powerful gods. The way to pray at the Izumo Taisha shrine in Shimane differs from the usual way of praying at other shrines. You do so by “bowing twice, clapping your hands four times and bowing once more”.
Visiting hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
HP: www.izumotaisya-tokyobunshi.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 3F Sophia Roppongi, 7-18-5, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
8. Mouri Garden
On the vast 4,300 square meter plot of land, you can see pond, waterfalls, sakura trees, gingko trees, lots of other plants and nature. There is a traditional “circuit-style” garden which can be called the symbol of Mouri Garden in the springtime with 8 blossoming Yoshino cherry trees, making it a popular flower viewing spot.
HP: www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html
HP: www.gotokyo.org/tc/index.html (中文)
HP: www.gotokyo.org/jp/kanko/minato/spot/40937.html (Japanese Only)
Address: 6 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
9. TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills
TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills is one of the country’s largest movie theatres with 9 large screens that are all capable of showing in 3D. When it’s the weekend, they also hold all-night screenings until 5 am the next morning.
HP: hlo.tohotheater.jp/net/schedule/009/TNPI2000J01.do (Japanese Only)
Address: Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Complex, 6-10-2, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
10. Roppongi Alfie
You can appreciate live performances from famous jazz artists here at this jazz club which has gained tremendous support from within and outside the country. Inside the club is cozy and when the live performances are over, it changes to a bar space. This is a club where musicians in Tokyo tend to visit even during their private times.
Business hours: Monday-Saturday: Open - 7:30 pm, 1st performance 8:00pm, 2nd performance 9:30pm, Bartime 11:00 pm - 3:00 am (closing)
Sunday & Holidays: Open - 7:00 pm, 1st performance 7:30 pm, 2nd performance 9:00 pm
HP: homepage1.nifty.com/live/alfie/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 5F Hama Roppongi Bld., 6-2-35, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
11. Mori Arts Center Gallery
The Mori Arts Gallery located on the 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower has exhibitions featuring many world famous masterpieces several times a year. Their exhibits on Ancient Egypt are usually internationally renowned and they even have exhibitions on things like famous Japanese manga like Naruto and One Piece. Unlike other normal art galleries, it has many interesting exhibits that change frequently so whenever you decide to go, you will enjoy yourself. The opening hours and the entrance fees differ based on the exhibit.
HP: www.roppongihills.com.e.nt.hp.transer.com/
HP: www.roppongihills.com.t.nt.hp.transer.com/ (中文)
HP: www.roppongihills.com/museum/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 6-10 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
12. Menya Musashi Kosho
Menya Musashi Kosho is the little sister shop of the highly famous Menya Musashi restaurant in Shinjuku. It’s so popular, there’s normally a line during the lunch hours. The noodles are hirauchi (flattened), you can choose from light to strong flavoring and their seasonal menu has many choices. In terms of popularity, their tsukemen is just as popular as their ramen. It is fantastic when accompanied with either an egg or broiled meat.
Business hours: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Holidays: None
HP: www.menya634.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1F Uchida Bld., 4-12-6, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
13. Izumi Garden Tower
Izumi Garden Tower is an office building connected directly to the Tokyo Metro Roppongi-Itchome Station. It is 216 meters tall with 45 floors above ground and 2 basement floors. Construction was completed in 2002 with its entire surface covered in glass. The 1st - 3rd floors have over 10 restaurants with many of them offering inexpensive options. It is easy to access, there are places to eat and you can sightsee as well as relax for a bit in the area. Architecture lovers should definitely pay a visit.
HP: izumigarden.jp/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, (Google Map)
14. Mercedes-Benz Connection
The internationally top-class vehicle brand Mercedes-Benz sponsors the “Mercedes-Benz Connection” with the concept “to connect/to bind” which offers test drives of actual Benz vehicles at their trial station as well as a cafe, restaurant and more. Whether you love Mercedes-Benz or you love cafes, you can definitely enjoy yourself at this cool location.
HP: www.mercedes-benz-connection.com/english/
HP: www.mercedes-benz-connection.com/index.html (Japanese Only)
Address: 7-3-10, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
15. Oak Door’s “Giant Oak Door Burger”
The Oak Door restaurant located inside the Tokyo Grand Hyatt Hotel offers the massive “Giant Oak Door Burger”. It is an unbelievable 22cm in diameter with a patty weighing 1kg and is about 5 times the size of a regular burger!! As you’d expect, it’s impossible for just one person to eat but you can have fun sharing and eating with your friends.
Business hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday/Sunday/Holidays 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Holidays: None
HP: restaurants.tokyo.grand.hyatt.com/
HP: restaurants.tokyo.grand.hyatt.co.jp/oak-door-restaurant/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 6F Tokyo Grand Hyatt, Roppongi Hills, 6-10-3, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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