101 things to do in Roppongi
Where to eat, shop and play in ‘High Touch Town’
As far as some Tokyo residents are concerned, the only good thing to do in Roppongi to is get the first train out of the place. The capital's most famous entertainment district is also perhaps its most notorious: popular with American GIs during the post-war occupation, it went from sleazy to classy to sleazy again over the ensuing decades. Even the opening of ambitious, upmarket developments like Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills – and the neighbourhood's bizarre re-christening as 'High Touch Town' in 1989 – haven't entirely removed its negative image. But don't let that put you off: you'd be missing out on a 'hood that's diverse, fun and also surprisingly classy. Read on for Time Out's selection of the best that Roppongi (and nearby Azabu-Juban) has to offer. It'll have you seeing the place in a whole new light – and it won't be a red one this time...
Feel like the king of the castle
Start your Roppongi adventure with a bird’s-eye view of the city at this recently renovated observation deck that’s 250m high and offers a 360-degree vista. Tokyo City View
Get into an artsy mood
Emmanuel Perrotin's gallery is known for participating in major art fairs from Art Basel and Frieze to Art Stage Jakarta and represents an impressive list of contemporary stars, including Kaws, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Maurizio Cattelan, Bharti Kher and JR. Perrotin Tokyo
Cool down with colourful ice
Kakigori is the ultimate Tokyo summer dessert. This Roppongi spot takes the old favourite to another level with flavours like tiramisu and carrot-mascarpone while also touting a luxurious four-berry variety. Kakigori Cafe & Bar Yelo
Shop till you drop
United Arrows' biggest-ever flagship store spreads out across the second and third floors of Roppongi Hills West Walk. The lower level is for women while the upper floor focuses on men's items – both sections are full of enough clothing, shoes and accessories to warm any fashion lover's heart. United Arrows Roppongi Hills
Sniff some sensible scents
Founded in Buenos Aires in 2010, this perfumery takes inspiration from South America’s rich history in art, music and nature. Probably some of the most unique scents you’ll have the pleasure of sniffing, their limited-edition fragrances are formulated from natural components, making each bottle a one-of-a-kind scent. Fueguia 1833
Pay your respects to a samurai hero
General Nogi and his wife, who proved their loyalty to Emperor Meiji by committing suicide when he died, are enshrined here. Besides their house, the shrine boasts about 2.5 acres of greenery and tranquillity in the middle of the city. Stop by for the antiques market every 4th Sunday (except November). Nogi Shrine
Seek out backstreet art
This backstreet gallery specialises in contemporary art from promising young Tokyo artists such as Yuko Murata, Fumito Urabe and Takeo Hanazawa, and stocks works by foreign artists such as the internationally renowned Rirkrit Tiravanija whose installations often involve tantalising food. Gallery Side 2
Stock up on sake
Nothing goes to waste at Kanazawa-based brewery Fukumitsuya: its Tokyo Midtown shop doesn’t just sell nihonshu, but also food and skincare products derived from sake. Sake Shop Fukumitsuya
Dine on the finest sushi
Run by famed sushi master Jiro Ono's second son, Takashi Ono, this is the perfect spot to indulge in some of Tokyo's finest fish. Be sure to make a reservation well ahead as this eight-seater is always on tight demand. For those wanting to try out an omakase sushi experience, there's no better place to start your eating adventure. Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi
Stay in a Zen hotel suite
Billing itself as a secret hideaway for grown-ups, this boutique hotel offers spacious, Zen-influenced suites and is well-positioned near the Nishi-Azabu crossing. Hotel S
Party until the sun rises
As with most Tokyo nightlife, if you are going to a sausage fest, you may want to head down to one with the most international flavour. A-Life invites you to a lively night out with different tunes playing on each floor. The club also offers three dancefloors, numerous bars and chill-out spaces with friendly bartenders. A-Life
Bite into some crisp tonkatsu
If you're looking for a quality and filling meal, look no further than this speciality pork cutlet shop in Nishi-Azabu. Pick your pig from the pork options ranging from Spanish to domestic, the latter sourced from numerous regions across Japan. Tonkatsu Butagumi
Join the craft beer scene
Housed in a stylish space close to Roppongi Station, Japan’s first BrewDog bar has a total of 20 varieties of beer on tap, while the food menu holds its own with offerings like homemade burgers and hotdogs. BrewDog Roppongi
Browse art books after sunset
Housing an impressive selection of art and design books, this is the ideal place to pick up a gift for a discerning friend – and the opening hours are perfect for late-night browsing. Aoyama Book Center
Tour the world of rum
It's easy to end up missing your last train home at this warmly inviting rum bar – and you'll need until dawn to sample even a fraction of the rare tipples on offer. Tafia
Have fish for dessert
Famous for being the original maker of taiyaki (fish-shaped dessert filled with sweet bean paste), Naniwaya opened in 1909 and is still at the top of the taiyaki game. Buy the treats as gifts or enjoy fresh warm ones at the shop. Naniwaya
Dig into a steal-of-a-deal lunch
Treat yourself to some quality wagyu at this meat specialist hidden down the side streets of Roppongi. One of the highlights of visiting Matsurokuya is the special lunch, limited to 30 bowls per day. Get there early to avoid missing out on the wagyu hitsumabushi (A5-grade wagyu served over rice) for an easy ¥2,000. Matsurokuya
Warm up with oden
Oden – vegetables, fish cakes, tofu and other ingredients simmered in broth – is one of Japan’s favourite winter warmers, and it doesn't get much tastier than at Fukushimaya. Also available in summer. Oden Fukushimaya
Get addicted to karinto
A word of warning before you join the queue outside this popular confectioner: their crispy karinto – deep-fried snacks flavoured with brown sugar – are dangerously addictive. Azabu Karinto
Hit the bull's-eye
A hip darts bar with an even hipper ‘i Tower’ drinks machine that serves a cocktail of Hennessy Cognac and iced black tea. Look out for seasonal events especially over Halloween and Christmas. I Darts Tokyo
Stroll around an inner-city park
Hard to believe now, but Roppongi was once full of hinoki cypress trees, which lent their name to the park that now sits next to Tokyo Midtown. Hinokicho Park
Luxuriate in an open-air bath
This flashy boutique hotel sits on a calm side street close to the National Art Center and Roppongi Hills. The suites have garden terraces and open-air baths, while other rooms feature traditional Japanese elements like sliding doors and washi paper. Design Hotel Iroha
Turn a curry lunch into a chic experience
The bland uniformity of your average Indian eatery menu is swiftly forgotten at Nirvana New York, where the cuisine is as inspired as it is wallet-busting. The chic indoor dining room is appealing enough, but when the weather’s good it’s hard to resist the outdoor terrace. Nirvana New York
Samba with churrasco
Tokyo’s love of Brazilian barbecue seems to know no bounds. One of the finer churrascarias in town is this Roppongi branch of Barbacoa, which has seating for 200, bookable private rooms, and a great value churrasco lunch for ¥3,600 (plus tax). Barbacoa Roppongi Hills
Nestle into an off-kilter music spot
Don’t forget to take your shoes off when entering Tokyo’s cosiest music venue, complete with sofas, beds and lush red carpets. Enjoy the interesting lineup, which sometimes includes artist Atsuhiro Ito’s experimental performances with light bulbs. Bullet's
Kit yourself out with a kimono
Kimonos are available both tailor-made or ready-to-wear at this friendly store, alongside a range of crafts and ornaments fashioned from recycled kimono material. Kimono Arts Sunaga
Dunk into a decadent doughnut
Friends of airy, fluffy, New York-style doughnuts will want to stop by this new Azabu-Juban shop, where around a dozen different kinds of sweet carb delights are available every day. Combine your choice with a cup of dark roast coffee from Kyoto bean purveyors Arabica. Dumbo Doughnuts and Coffee
Relax, Roppongi-style
Whatever the time, you can always unwind at this multi-storey spa complex, which offers baths, saunas, Korean body scrubs, facials and massages 24/7. Roppongi Vivi
Cosy up with a top mixologist
Talented mixologist Gen Yamamoto returned from New York to open this eight-seat bar in early 2013 – an intimate setting to enjoy his seasonal, individually tailored cocktails. Gen Yamamoto
Shop for artistic souvenirs
Visit this gallery for exciting modern art exhibitions and the adjoining art and design shop for all your souvenir needs. Find one-of-a-kind trinkets from Japanese artists including Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami plus interesting gifts you won’t see elsewhere. Roppongi Hills A/D Gallery Store
Spin yourself into shape
Get your spin on at Feelcycle, an intense 45-minute spin class that will have you sweating bullets but feeling great afterwards. Incorporating both aerobics and strength training into each class, spin is a total body workout that you'll definitely feel afterwards. Feelcycle
Savour artistic creations
Watch as pastry chefs whip up beautifully handcrafted sweets right in front of you – as much about the experience as it is about the eating, Toshi Yoroizuka at Midtown isn't your average dessert den. Enjoy unique treats like blue cheese ice cream and molten chocolate souffles filled with tangy passion fruit compote. Toshi Yoroizuka
Catch a film – with your baby
The regular Mama's Club Theater screenings at Toho Cinemas are specially tailored to young parents, meaning you can take your baby to the movies, worry-free. Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills
Slurp a bowl of late-night noodles
How better to round off a night in Roppongi than with a hearty bowl of noodles? Tsurutontan keeps serving its udon – ranging from traditional Kansai styles to carbonara – until 8am. Tsurutontan
Scoop up a Tokyo-style souvenir
The in-house shop at the National Art Center, Tokyo does a lot more than sell postcards: it also offers an array of Tokyo-themed goods that, as the name says, make great souvenirs. Souvenir From Tokyo
Eat the best croissant in Tokyo
One of the very few Japanese bakers to make it really big in Paris, Yoshimi Ishikawa founded Maison Landemaine together with her husband Rodolphe Landemaine. Their artisanal bread and pastries have convinced even the famously conservative French gourmet press. Maison Landemaine Tokyo
Treat yourself to veggie-inspired snacks
Selling various sweets and dainty desserts made from fruit and vegetables, this shop is great for finding that perfect edible gift. Yasaigashi also has an in-house café offering sweets, coffee and tea, plus kakigori (shaved ice) during the warmer months. Azabu Yasaigashi
Work out at the dinner table
The ideal lunch spot for athletic types, Total Workout Cafe offers a range of low-fat salads, sandwiches, pastas, protein drinks – and even healthy desserts. Total Workout Cafe
Sweeten up with Japanese treats
Specialising in traditional Japanese sweets, this shop serves up popular dishes including their ogura toast, made with sweet bean paste, and gelatinous warabimochi dusted with kinako soybean flour. It's not all desserts, though: there's a smaller section of the menu devoted to savoury dishes. Amanoya
Keep it rockin'
The hamburgers are juicy, the walls are crammed with memorabilia and the music's always cranked up to 11 at this long-running institution, recently given a slick makeover. Hard Rock Cafe
Dig into the world of design
Famed Japanese designers Issey Miyake, Taku Satoh and Naoto Fukasawa are the brains behind this sleek, design-centric art space, housed in the grounds of Tokyo Midtown. 21_21 Design Sight
Catch a gig, film, fashion show...
Opened in 2013, Ex Theater hosts pop and rock gigs, musicals, film screenings, fashion shows and other events, but if you head up to the second floor you’ll also find a spacious garden and a café. Ex Theater Roppongi
Check out a hip ramen joint
Who said ramen was just for blokes? The Afuri chain woos the ladies with its light, chicken-based broth, served in a setting that’s more like a designer dining bar than a noodle shop. Afuri
Take in a classic view
The hillside Keyakizaka Dori offers a picturesque vantage point for gazing out at Tokyo Tower. Best enjoyed during the winter months, when its trees are decorated with fairy lights. Roppongi Keyakizaka Dori
Live it up at the Hyatt
When you need to entertain clients in style, this low-lit hotel bar is the place to head... and lose yourself in a sophisticated world of cocktails, cigars and live jazz. Maduro
Carb load on fluffy bread
These long-established bakers are best known for their Hokkaido milk bread, featuring a fluffy interior and light buttery sweetness, making for the perfect accompaniment to your breakfast or tea. Mont Thabor
Add a modern kimono to your wardrobe
In the market for a kimono? Head to designer Jotaro Saito’s shop where you’ll find classic and contemporary designs including denim ones for men. Jotaro Saito
Indulge in some inarizushi
There aren't many sushi restaurants that you'd recommend for something other than fish – but then, there aren't many that make inarizushi as distinctive as Otsuna's. Otsuna Sushi
Tuck into authentic dumplings
Gyoza (aka Chinese dumplings) are normally eaten with soy sauce, but this family-run Chinese restaurant puts a twist on tradition by serving it with vinegar and pepper. It’s juicy on the inside and crispy golden brown on the outside. Perfect paired with a beer. Minmin Gyoza
Get your fix of European artsiness
Take a quick stroll from Roppongi Hills and you'll find this bastion of contemporary European art, which represents notable names such as Gerhard Richter and Wolfgang Tillmans. Wako Works of Art
Chow on pho for lunch
Vietnamese pho noodles are the speciality of this eatery, whose out-of-the-way location hasn't stopped it becoming a popular lunch spot. Just leave some space for the spring rolls too. Pho Dragon
Feast on sumptuous seafood
Take your pick from the seafood lined up on a bed of ice inside the restaurant; choose your favourite fish and preparation method (as carpaccio, with pasta, the list goes on) and you're good to go. #Uni
Gaze at priceless works of art
Some of Japan’s best-known contemporary artists – such as Yayoi Kusama, Tsuyoshi Ozawa and others who deal with the politics of identity – show at this well-established gallery, which moved to Roppongi in 2011 after a lengthy stint in Ginza. Ota Fine Arts
Build a completely customisable burger
The Counter is located on the basement floor of Midtown and offers relief to local patty-munchers. Customise your very own burger with a long list of choices: pick exactly what type of patty, cheese, sauce and topping you'd like from a myriad of options. The Counter Roppongi
Appreciate the art of Japanese confections
Toraya has been crafting wagashi (Japanese traditional confections) since the early 16th century. Besides its main shop, this branch also houses a café and gallery, and stocks a wonderful range of traditional souvenirs. Toraya Tokyo Midtown
Ogle at some gender-bending dancers
Even by Roppongi's standards, a visit to Kingyo can be a real eye-opener: those dishy damsels performing in the evening shows are actually all transvestites and transsexuals. Roppongi Kingyo
Choose quirky crafts
Putting a quirky twist on traditional crafts, Blue & White have been surprising customers with its original handiwork for 40 years now. Visit them for an interesting selection of yukata and tenugui. Blue & White
Dine and dance at one convenient location
Formerly known as Vanity, V2 Tokyo is one of the city's flashiest and most popular clubs, perched high above central Roppongi and offering rather nice panoramic views of the Tokyo skyline at night. Earlier in the evening it functions as an eclectic restaurant that serves up everything from molecular cuisine to pizza and pasta. V2 Tokyo
Catch picture-perfect shots
First established in Shibuya but now sharing Roppongi's Piramide Building with several renowned galleries, this photo-focused spot isn't exactly well-known but often hosts highly interesting exhibits. Zen specialises in Asian photographers, especially Japanese and Chinese ones. Zen Foto Gallery
Wrap yourself in a ‘pastoral’ towel
The towels are organised according to ‘touch’ – from ‘crispy’ and ‘silky’ to ‘mother’ and ‘pastoral’ – at this specialist shop in Roppongi Hills. Yup: pastoral. They also stock a range of comfy casualwear. Touch
Experience a Japanese-style cabaret club
Tantra Artistic Lounge is the most prestigious members' lounge in Tokyo. Look forward to artistic pole dancing, fire shows, a bevy of beautiful hostesses and some celebrity spotting. They also have a restaurant and karaoke facilities. Tantra Tokyo
Delve into a bazaar of the bizarre
At this 24-hour variety goods discount store you can find a range of items such as food and beverages, daily essentials, home electronics and brand-name goods. They accept credit cards and foreign currencies and, of course, all items are duty-free. Don Quijote
Spend the day in a world of art
Opened inside Roppongi's Complex665, this Taka Ishii gallery (there are two more dotted around the city) shows photography by major international and Japanese artists (Nobuyoshi Araki, Daido Moriyama, Thomas Demand). Taka Ishii Gallery
Put a modern twist on tradition
Traditional Japanese craftsmanship gets a contemporary update at The Cover Nippon, the dream souvenir shop for people with impeccable taste and bottomless wallets. The Cover Nippon
Hit an avant-garde hangout
A haven for adventurously minded Tokyoites, this basement venue hosts improv gigs, dance shows and Pecha Kucha nights – and serves the highly quaffable Tokyo Ale. SuperDeluxe
Sample soba with an international twist
Koichi Kobari closed his popular soba joint in NYC to open this Roppongi shop, and SoHo's loss was our gain. Even measured against the far stiffer local competition, Honmura An's noodles are superb. Honmura An
Calm down at a hidden temple
If you're looking for a moment of repose, head across the road from the Grand Hyatt Tokyo to this small temple, an urban oasis amidst the bustle of Roppongi. Myozenji Temple
Cut into a juicy steak
Hailing from New York City, Benjamin is a solid destination for quality-conscious carnivores. Hungry diners can look forward to dry-aged USDA Prime beef in all the usual cuts. Benjamin Steakhouse