Roppongi Guide: Tokyo's Hub of Art and Fine Dining
Roppongi crossing
Roppongi, nestled in Tokyo's Minato City, stands as a testament to the city's fusion of culture, commerce, and nightlife. Often dubbed as having two faces, Roppongi blends luxury with excitement, offering visitors a mix of high-end sophistication and lively entertainment.
This guide unveils the essence of Roppongi, exploring the best places to eat, where to get a good coffee, or the area’s best museums.
In this Roppongi Guide
Roppongi Hills
Tokyo Midtown
Roppongi Art Triangle
The food
Hard Rock Cafe
How to get to Roppongi
Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills is the modern beating heart of Roppongi, as a symbol of Tokyo's blend of modernity and tradition, anchored by the impressive Mori Tower. This architectural marvel offers visitors a wealth of experiences, beginning with the Tokyo City View observatory, which provides breathtaking panoramic views of the cityscape.
Within the tower, the Mori Art Museum hosts a rotating roster of contemporary art exhibitions, showcasing the innovative works of both Japanese and international artists. The complex also houses upscale boutiques, gourmet dining options, and luxurious accommodations, making it a one-stop destination for culture, shopping, and relaxation. The integration of art, commerce, and leisure within Roppongi Hills encapsulates the dynamic spirit of Roppongi itself, offering a vertical oasis where every level promises a new discovery.
Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
Roppongi Art Triangle
Roppongi is known for its rich artistic scene, with lots of museums, galleries, and cultural spots that celebrate creativity in many ways. The core of Roppongi’s art scene is connected through three of Tokyo’s premier cultural institutions.
Mori Art Museum
The Mori Art Museum, located atop the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills, is a beacon of contemporary art in Tokyo. Renowned for its innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions, the museum showcases an array of works from both Japanese and international artists. Its mission to engage the public with cutting-edge art is reflected in its programming, which includes installations, multimedia projects, and interactive exhibits. The panoramic views of Tokyo from the museum add an extra dimension to the visitor experience, blending the visual spectacle of the city with the creative wonders within.
Mori Art Museum entrance
Suntory Museum of Art
The Suntory Museum of Art, located in the elegant Tokyo Midtown complex, is dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of traditional Japanese art and crafts. It houses a collection that spans various forms, including ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and glassware, each piece reflecting Japan's rich cultural heritage. Its serene setting, combined with thoughtfully curated displays, makes the Suntory Museum of Art a calm retreat for art enthusiasts and a cornerstone of Roppongi's cultural landscape.
Suntory Museum of Art Roppongi
The National Art Center Tokyo
The National Art Center Tokyo, an architectural marvel designed by Kisho Kurokawa, is renowned for its wavy glass façade and expansive exhibition spaces. It does not maintain a permanent collection but hosts a changing rotation of exhibitions, showcasing a wide spectrum of art forms from classical to contemporary. Located in Roppongi, the center is a pivotal part of the area's Art Triangle, contributing to Tokyo's reputation as a global cultural hub.
National Art Center Tokyo
Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo Midtown is a massive commercial complex in Roppongi. Dominated by the sleek Midtown Tower, it offers a luxurious mix of shopping, dining, and cultural experiences. You can enjoy serene moments in the Garden Terrace's greenery, or explore the rich artistic offerings of the Suntory Museum of Art. Tokyo Midtown's integration of modern design, green spaces, and cultural venues makes it a hub where Tokyo's energy meets elegance.
Tokyo Midtown Roppongi
Fujifilm Square
Located in Tokyo Midtown, Fujifilm Square celebrates the art and technology of photography. Fujifijlm square functions as both a shop, gallery, service center, museum, and event space. You can explore cutting-edge imaging technologies and historic cameras, gaining insights into Fujifilm's legacy in photography.
Fujifilm Square Roppongi
Blue Bottle Coffee
Located right next to Tokyo Midtown you find Blue Bottle Coffee Roppongi. This American coffee chain has certainly made an impact in Tokyo. With Blue Bottle coffee readily available throughout the city, taking a break for a quality brew at any Blue Bottle location is always a great choice. The Roppongi branch features a serene and mellow interior resulting in a calm wabi sabi inspired atmosphere.
Blue Bottle Coffee Roppongi
The Food of Roppongi
Roppongi’s food scene is a mix of authentic and more high end places. From traditional eateries that have been around since the 70s, to new concept stores or fusion restaurants. While it’s always a good idea to venture off on your own and stumble on amazing food places, we provide you with our recommendations for a snack, lunch, or dinner in Roppongi.
Menshou Taketora
In the midst of Roppongi you find Menshou Taketora, a stylish showa era ramen place. On the menu you find quite a big variety of rich tonkotsu and tan tan soup options, both available as ramen or tsukemen (separating the noodles from the soup). We highly recommend getting some of their egg-cooked rice or a chashu rice bowl as a side.
Menshou Taketora Roppongi
Bricolage Bread & Co
Located next to Roppongi Hills, this relaxed cafe and bakery, Bricolage Bread & Co, offers artisanal French bread, international snacks, and coffee. The cafe was founded by two individuals who met while providing food distribution aid to the victims of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The menu features classic dishes like eggs benedict and avocado toast, along with a variety of other light and healthy options. For a quick snack, you can choose from an assortment of pastries, including croissants and apple crumble. The coffee, supplied by the iconic Fuglen, makes Bricolage Bread & Co a perfect pit stop in Roppongi.
Bricolage Bread & Co Roppongi
Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi Hills
Sukiyabashi Jiro is an offshoot of the legendary Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza, which is helmed by the celebrated sushi master Jiro Ono. This Roppongi branch is run by Jiro's younger son, Takashi Ono, and maintains the high standards and traditional techniques that have made the original restaurant famous. The setting is elegant yet simple, allowing the quality of the sushi to be the focal point. Reservations are typically required well in advance due to the restaurant's prestigious reputation and limited seating.
Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi Hills
Soryu Togyokudo Roppongi
Soryu Togyokudo is a Chinese restaurant located close to Roppongi Crossing. The restaurant specializes in dan dan noodles and gyoza. You can get delicious but spicy Buraihan tantanmen ramen, beef belly dandan noodles, or a gyoza set meal and all of them will blow you away with their juicy and rich flavors. The perfect stop for a traditional Chinese food adventure.
Soryu Togyokudo Roppongi
Roppongi Maoka
No Roppongi restaurant list is complete with at least one fine dining place. Roppongi Maoka is a tiny place specializing in grilled eel. Their recommended course is the Unadon course, including tons of delicious appetizers like fatty tuna, fugu chawanmushi, crab cream croquette, and grilled eel on rice, among others. Be sure to make a reservation on their website. A dinner experience at Maoka will set you back at least 13,000 yen.
Roppongi Maoka
Aria Cucina Italiana
An authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Roppongi. Aria Cucina Italiana holds a high reputation in Roppongi. The place offers everything you would expect from an Italian place and more. Classic spaghetti bolognese and carbonara defend the classics, while more experimental pastas like snow crab and ricotta cheese tomato sauce or pescatore rucola and pistachio genovese invite you to go avant-garde. Enjoy quality Italian in a traditional interior with excellent service for reasonable prices.
aria cucina italiana roppongi
Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi
Tokyo has two Hard Rock Cafe locations, one in Uyeno Station, the other in Roppongi. Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi is everything you can expect from a Hard Rock experience. As you enter the alley, you’ll first encounter the small Rock shop where you can get the trademark pins, magnets, t-shirts, and other merch. Further down the street you find the iconic Hard Rock Cafe building, decorated with a massive neon-lit guitar on its facade. Inside you can enjoy American classics, a kind and fluent English staff, and of course a collection of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia.
Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo Roppongi
How to get to Roppongi
Roppongi Station is serviced by the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or the Toei Oedo Line.
From Shinjuku Station:
Toei Oedo Line to Roppongi Station
From Tokyo Station
Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line to Kasumigaseki
Transfer to Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line to Roppongi
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