Once notorious for its shady nightlife and underground gangster dealings, Roppongi has evolved to become Tokyo’s biggest contemporary art hub with such giants as The National Arts Center, Tokyo, Suntory Art Museum, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT and the Mori Art Museum now all housed within just a few minutes of each other. Roppongi also becomes host to the Tokyo International Film Festival in autumn and Roppongi Art Night in spring, so be sure to check for events around the Ropppongi area when you are planning on visiting.

If you are lost as to which museums to check out first, head over to our very own guide to Tokyo’s Best Art and Design Museums + Galleries.

        While being host to some of Tokyo’s most exciting art and design museums, Roppongi is also the home of Tokyo Midtown, a luxury shopping and business complex just north of Roppongi station, where you’ll find the Suntory Museum of Art, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Fujifilm headquarters and a range of exciting fashion, design and gourmet boutiques.

Start your exploration of Midtown at its Galleria underground gourmet floor which features the beautiful shop, café and gallery of Toraya, a renown producer of traditional Japanese sweets. Work you way up through the first and second “fashion” floors until you reach Midtown’s third “interior & design” floor featuring the outstanding interior design shop of Time & Style as well as Nihonbashi Kiya’s sleek knife shop. 

        Continue your journey through Tokyo Midtown-wonderland and grab a meal at one of the terrace-side restaurants, which boast a beautiful view over the wonderful Tokyo Midtown Garden, which, during cherry blossom season, turns into one of the city’s best hanami spots. 

You may also decide to get one of the culinary delights of Midtown’s B1F to go and take a seat in the Midtown Garden, which can be reached via a couple of footbridges directly from the shopping mall. Also inside Tokyo Midtown Garden is 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, a must-visit gallery for any design and photography lover, built by none other than legendary architect Tadao Ando.

Tokyo Midtown Garden also regularly hosts wonderful seasonal events such as pop-up art installations, an outdoor cocktail bar and footbath in the summer, an ice-skating rink in the winter, free yoga events etc., making it an exciting destination to visit all-year-round.

        Once you leave Tokyo Midtown behind you and make your way south, you will hit Roppongi’s main street with its ugly intercity highway bridge and mostly uninteresting shops and restaurants. 
 
As your last stop for the day, make your way back west towards Roppongi Hills. There you will find the Mori Art Museum, TOHO Cinemas (which becomes the venue for the Tokyo International Film Festival in autumn), the famous Maman Spider Sculpture by Louise Bourgeoisas, well as a range of shops, restaurants and bars in and around Mori Tower that make for a great night out in Roppongi.