GUIDE TO SOUTHERN TOKYO

YOUR GUIDE TO

#TOKYOTOWER #ROPPONGI

Southern Tokyo

Uncover some of Tokyo’s hottest attractions around Roppongi and the Tokyo Tower.

Whether you want to immerse yourself in some of Tokyo’s most happening nightlife or are looking for a bird’s-eye view of the city from the top of the Tokyo Tower, all signs point south.

Nakameguro

Ebisu SOUTHERN

TOKYO

Roppongi Azabu-juban

Tokyo Tower

Shinagawa Hamamatsucho

TOKYO TOWER & SURROUNDS

It’s just a 15-minute walk east from Roppongi to the Tokyo Tower, that spire into the sky that promises unrivalled views over the city and out to sea.

WHAT TO SEE & DO There are few architectural icons as emblematic of the Japanese capital as the Tokyo Tower, built in 1958 as a symbol of Tokyo’s rejuvenation after World War II. Standing 333 metres tall, it has two observation decks offering expansive views across Tokyo and out to sea, as well as a series of floors dedicated to entertainment. A few steps away is the Zojoji Temple, its buildings holding more than 600 years’ worth of history, all enveloped by luscious parks and gardens that offer a moment of quiet contemplation in this otherwise busy pocket of the city.

TRAVEL TIPS

• Tofuya Ukai is a traditional tofu restaurant with Japanese gardens located at the foot of Tokyo Tower.

Enjoy elaborate kaiseki meals while gazing at manicured grounds.

• Walk around the gardens of

Zojoji Temple – at the rear of the main temple is the tomb of six Tokugawa Shoguns.

LEFT: Old meets new: Zojoji Temple backdropped by the gleaming Tokyo Tower spire © Shutterstock

One of Tokyo’s most notorious nightlife and entertainment districts, Roppongi enjoys a prime position in the central-south of Tokyo. This affluent neighbourhood is where you’ll find a number of foreign embassies, surrounded by upmarket shopping and lifestyle complexes like Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, packed with fashionable brandname boutiques, hotels and restaurants – you’ll discover everything from casual dining to Michelin-starred meals in these perennially popular hubs. Roppongi is also known as a centre for arts, with some of the nation’s foremost institutions located here.

WHAT TO SEE & DO If you happen to visit this neighbourhood during the day, then you’re likely here for the retail distractions on offer at legendary malls Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills. The former is 570,000 square metres of shopping heaven, with brands ranging from Manolo Blahnik to Diptique, with incredible Japanese homewares and art in between. Meanwhile at Roppongi Hills, boutiques range from popular high-street outlets to high-end stores, while dozens of restaurants let you eat your way around Japan – and the world.

This is the gateway to a number of Tokyo’s most coveted galleries, including the Mori Art Museum, packed with contemporary art from the likes of Ai Weiwei, Gohar Dashti and Bill Viola; the Suntory Museum of Art, with its collection of works themed around ‘art in life’; and the National Art Center, which is known for hosting some of the county’s best seasonal exhibitions.

THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: Art at the entrance to Roppongi Hills © John Balson/Shutterstock; retail therapy in Roppongi © Ra Chaeik/Shutterstock OPPOSITE PAGE: Views over the city from the Skydeck at Roppongi Hills

TRAVEL TIPS

• Visit the Skydeck at Roppongi Hills for views across Tokyo.

• For a tranquil break, head to Nogijinja Shrine just north of Roppongi.

• Refuel in a bar or cafe at one of the luxury hotels – like the

Grand Hyatt Tokyo or The Ritz-

Carlton, Tokyo – attached to

Roppongi’s shopping complexes.