30 best things to do at Azabudai Hills

One of the many dining and drinking options at luxury hotel Janu Tokyo, Janu Bar is an exceptional spot to kick off your evening. The luxe lounge boasts a creative menu curated by legendary mixologist Shuzo Nagumo featuring cocktails inspired by Tokyo’s many districts.

This cosy café-lounge is ideal when you’re looking to sit back and relax with a well-made cup of coffee or cocktail in hand. During tea time, the menu extends to offer light meals including pasta, burgers and desserts like tiramisu. Come evening, the bar serves up a curated selection of whiskey and beer plus signature cocktails.

Stop by this takeaway gyoza stand and savour legendary dumplings from a beloved Tokyo eatery that’s been a local favourite since 1953. The dumplings are made with a mix of pork, domestic vegetables and crisp Tokiwa garlic, which gives these gyoza their flavourful punch. They’re available frozen or ready-to-eat in packs of six or more.

Whether you’re looking for a tasty gift or something to satisfy your sweet tooth, you’ll find it at this chic shop that crafts sweets from health-conscious ingredients. You can indulge in tempting treats like macarons, pound cakes, chocolate petals, organic ice cream and gelato. Their gift boxes make a great memento to take back home.

Savour some of Japan’s best green tea in the form of matcha lattes and green-tea infused sweets at this revered tea shop, which has been in business in Kyoto since 1854. Aside from takeaway drinks and desserts, you can purchase tea bags and sweets that make ideal gifts.

This gem of an izakaya is known for its excellent seafood dishes, from freshly cut sashimi to salt-baked abalone – all of which pair wonderfully with the wide range of sake available. Don’t know what to order? Go for the omakase, a meal composed of a succession of courses selected by the chefs.

Make a reservation months in advance to enjoy yakitori at Torishiki, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Meguro, or get some skewered chicken to go whenever you like from their outpost at Azabudai Hills Market. The chicken is cooked and brought out five times a day, so be sure to time your visit right for the optimal flavour.

If you appreciate first-rate rice, you’ll want to make a visit to Sumidaya. This speciality shop is an outpost of a long-established rice store in Tokyo’s Sumida district and prides itself on its unique rice polishing techniques and original rice blends. Try the handmade onigiri rice balls (for takeaway) and choose from a variety of packaged rice that’s blended for dishes like curry, sushi, onigiri and more.

Need your seafood fix? Visit this top-tier tuna wholesaler from Toyosu Market, renowned for supplying premium tuna and seasonal fish to sushi restaurants and Japanese eateries across Japan and overseas. Indulge in high-quality sashimi and sushi to-go from this convenient takeaway counter.

Chocolate shop Minimal offers a new take on its delectable specialities at this unique café, where you can indulge in a decadent chocolate afternoon tea featuring Minimal’s seasonal cacao and sweets or even enjoy a pairing of chocolate and sake. For something truly peculiar, try the cacao liquor tasting that lets you sample five of their original tipples.

Tempura is a Japanese staple, and you can enjoy it in an elegant setting at this Fukuoka-born specialist restaurant. The menu includes set meals and rice bowls as well as chef’s choice omakase meals that let you sample the best ingredients of the season. Pair your tempura with sake and wine for the complete experience.

You can now taste the creations of Bali’s famous vegan restaurant and fresh juice bar right here in Tokyo. Alchemy offers healthy, fully plant-based dishes including colourful salad and grain bowls, raw chocolate and sweets, taro pancakes, quesadillas and more.

Dig into mouthwatering deep-fried pork cutlets at this offshoot of a revered Tokyo tonkatsu restaurant. Kawamura prides itself on procuring the best ingredients, including top-quality Hayashi SPF pork and Koshikari rice from Nagano. We love the set that includes both loin and fillet cuts – the ‘big two’ styles of tonkatsu in one tasty meal.

For a well-crafted burger at Azabudai Hills, look no further than Shogun. Known for its juicy wagyu burgers, the restaurant uses high-grade cuts of beef to give their patties great bite and texture. Besides burgers, the menu includes original fried chicken, fresh salads, milkshakes, desserts and more.

A renowned Kyoto greengrocer, Kyoto Yaoichi sells some of Japan’s best seasonal produce, sourced from farmers all over the country – or grown at the company’s very own farm. At the Azabudai Hills shop you can takeaway ready-to-eat fruit cups, salads and deli dishes.

Savour top-quality buckwheat noodles at this stylish soba restaurant, where you can pair your serving with seasonal dishes like fresh sashimi and tempura made with locally grown veggies. Soba sets are offered during lunch, while at dinner you can order à la carte or enjoy a multicourse soba meal.

You can’t go wrong with some ramen, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Menson Rage. This modern noodle joint is known for its Neo Shamo soba, a style of ramen made from local Tokyo ingredients including an umami-packed heirloom chicken soup. Other punt-worthy alternatives include vegan ramen and soupless maze soba.

Dig into authentic Indian dishes at Ahilya, the Azabudai Hills offshoot of a popular Yoyogi restaurant frequented by embassy staffers and Indian food enthusiasts in Japan. Dishes are whipped up with fresh spices that are mixed daily – a commitment you can taste in the traditional Indian appetisers, carefully crafted curries and barbecued meats cooked in a traditional tandoor. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Pick up some incredible bottles of wine, sake and Japanese spirits at this comprehensive shop curated by Kenichi Ohashi, the only person in Japan to hold the title of Master of Wine. You can also pair 20 different types of wine and sake at the store’s Component Pairing Counter.

Specialising in beautifully intricate fine jewellery, Mio Harutaka is known for combining luxurious, natural precious stones like diamonds and sapphires with designs inspired by nature – think flowers, insects and animals. The classic yet avant-garde interior is the work of the New Material Research Laboratory and gives the space a natural touch that highlights the themes of life and geometry.

Stocking plush towels from Imabari – Japan’s top towel-production region – True Towel carries beautiful specimens in a variety of colours. Including the popular Classic Hotel series used by luxury hotels, Imabari towels are praised for their softness, water absorbency and durability, making them a great gift that will last for years to come.

Founded by English jean maker Jason Denham, this Amsterdam-born label offers impeccably crafted jeans made with premium fabrics from Italy and Japan. Inspired by the spirit of the original blue jeans, the brand has perfected their denim by focusing on contemporary cuts and unique washes. The store also has an in-house café serving specialty coffee.

This shop is where to explore the world of Japanese tea through blends incorporating everything from fruit to medicinal herbs. Saboe also stocks the T., Collection, a range of ten unique blended teas that offer a new way to enjoy the classic beverage, matcha, tea equipment, and sweets that pair well with the brews, courtesy of renowned wagashi shop Higashiya.

Founded in Buenos Aires in 2010, this perfumery takes inspiration from South America’s rich history in art, music and nature. Sustainability is key in everything from the packaging to the sourcing of natural botanical ingredients and the manufacturing of each and every fragrance. 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. 

Explore this all-encompassing bookstore offering everything from the latest titles and magazines to an art zone and an in-house café and bar, including many seats where you can enjoy reading books at your leisure. Keep an eye out for happenings: Ogaki frequently hosts book-related events and projects throughout the year.

Art collective teamLab have filled this captivating space with numerous immersive installations showcasing their boundless creativity and cutting-edge technology. The mapless museum can be explored at your own pace, so you can wander and interact with the pieces as you please. The artworks also change over time, meaning no two visits are ever the same.

This two-in-one space is both a gallery and a restaurant, letting you enjoy engaging exhibitions while tasting dishes served up in artful ways. Beyond the exhibition space up front is a kitchen where you can enjoy appetisers, multicourse meals and even unique dining experiences where artworks can be appreciated while having a meal.

Located by Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, this cultural hub organises exhibitions highlighting distinguished local and international artists. The gallery has recently welcomed luminaries such as Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson and American sculptor Alexander Calder, as well as the Pokémon x Kogei exhibition, a unique take on traditional Japanese crafts.

Blending the surrounding buildings and landscape together, Azabudai Hills’ Central Green is where you’ll come across a multitude of public artworks scattered throughout lush greenery. Highlights include ‘Miss Forest in Tokyo’ (2023) by Yoshitomo Nara, ‘Artificial Rock No. 109’ (2015) by Zhan Wang, and ‘Wood Log’ (2017/2023) by Yutaka Sone. Additional public art by Olafur Eliasson can be found in the lobby of the Mori JP Tower.

As one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries, Pace represents some of today’s most influential contemporary artists. Extending across two floors, their expansive Tokyo gallery was designed by architect Sou Fujimoto and offers a curated space to experience art. It showcases globally active artists from Pace’s extensive roster.