GET TO KNOW THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Give one exhibition your morning, explore Azabudai or Hiroo, then finish beneath Tokyo Tower. This part of the city rewards a few well-chosen stops.
Art, skyline views, landscaped new developments and quieter residential streets. Minato rewards a day built around one exhibition or experience, with time for the neighbourhood in between.
Roppongi’s museums and mixed-use developments bring art, offices, restaurants and public space together. Nearby, Tokyo Tower and Zōjō-ji offer a striking view of different layers of the city.
Azabudai adds contemporary architecture, gardens and immersive art to the route. Hiroo is a good place to slow down again, with its shopping street and Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park. These places share a ward, but walking between every stop can make a long day.
Further reading
SIGHTS & STORIES
Roppongi
Choose an exhibition at the Mori Art Museum, the National Art Center, Tokyo or the Suntory Museum of Art.
Each has its own programme, and a museum-led visit is more satisfying than racing between buildings. Leave time for the surrounding gardens and streets.
Tokyo Tower & Zōjō-ji
Combine a view of Tokyo Tower with the temple grounds of Zōjō-ji and nearby Shiba Park.
The relationship between temple roofs and the tower is as compelling from the ground as the panorama from above. Check tickets if you want to visit an observation deck.
Azabudai
Explore Azabudai Hills’ architecture, planted spaces and food market. If teamLab Borderless is the focus, book through its official site and let that visit set the day’s schedule.
Leave room for a meal rather than treating the complex as a quick transfer.
Hiroo
Walk the shopping street towards Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park, whose paths, slopes and pond give this residential district a quieter centre.
A café stop and a park walk make a useful counterpoint to a morning of galleries and large developments.
AT THE TABLE
A mix of small pauses and longer meals around Roppongi, Hiroo and the tower.
01 / SOBA & IZAKAYA / NISHI-AZABU
Soba and grilled skewers in a lively dining room. A good choice for a longer dinner with a few dishes to share.
02 / JAPANESE COOKING / ROPPONGI
Seasonal Japanese cooking, with lunch sets and a more leisurely dinner. Build in time to sit down between Roppongi’s galleries and backstreets.
03 / KOCHI COOKING & IZAKAYA / ROPPONGI
Straw-seared bonito is the draw at this Kochi-inspired izakaya. Order a few dishes to share and make an evening of it.
04 / SOBA / AZABU-JUBAN
Soba and Japanese small plates in Azabu-Juban. A sit-down meal to pair with a walk through the neighbourhood’s shopping streets.
05 / PIZZA / AZABU-JUBAN
New York-style pizza for a relaxed break from sightseeing. Useful when you want something casual in Azabu-Juban.
06 / YAKITORI & IZAKAYA / SHINAGAWA
Chicken skewers and izakaya dishes on the Konan side of Shinagawa Station. A convenient dinner stop before or after a train journey.
07 / COFFEE / AZABU-JUBAN
Coffee and a sweet pause at the entrance to the shopping streets. Work it into a walk between Azabu-Juban and Roppongi.
08 / YAKINIKU / AZABU-JUBAN
Japanese barbecue with Korean dishes alongside the grilled meat. Set aside time for a shared dinner rather than a quick stop.
09 / HAKATA SKEWERS & IZAKAYA / ROPPONGI
Hakata-style skewers and shochu in a lively Roppongi setting. Choose a spread of skewers and settle in for the evening.
SHAPE YOUR DAYS
A sample stay, with room to linger.
Start with the museum and exhibition that interests you most.
Keep lunch in Roppongi so the morning has room to breathe.
Travel or walk across for the architecture and gardens, or substitute a pre-booked teamLab visit for the morning museum.
Finish towards the tower and temple precinct, checking access hours for any interiors you want to enter.
Choose Hiroo in place of Azabudai for a less scheduled afternoon.
FIND YOUR WAY
ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY
MAKE IT YOUR JOURNEY
Build a journey around the places and experiences that interest you.
