This miniature city within a city in southern Tokyo boasts great shopping, the latest modern art and breath-taking views over the metropolis.
The Roppongi Hills complex is a city within a city and it has everything: offices, housing, shopping, entertainment, buzzing nightlife and beautiful green spaces all in one place. The complex opened in 2003 with a vision to improve the quality of life for its residents, cutting down commuting time and giving people more time for work and play. In the decade since its completion, Roppongi Hills has become popular with visitors of all nationalities and is a lively meeting place in the heart of Tokyo.At the centre of Roppongi, the 54-storey Mori Tower rises 238 metres with shops and restaurants on its lower levels and offices in the middle 43 storeys. At the very top of the tower is the Mori Art Museum which contains modern art from around the world and provides a special venue for up and coming young artists. Previously having exhibited works by Ai Weiwei and Bill Viola, the temporary displays cover broad-ranging themes from love to the current state of Japanese art. A museum ticket will also give you access to the fantastic Tokyo City View observation deck.From the observation deck, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the city: to the east is Tokyo Tower and to the west, Mount Fuji. During good weather, you can access the outside Sky Deck for an additional fee. The extra cost is well worth it, as the deck is one of the best places in the whole city to watch day turn to night and to see the city’s bright illuminations lighting up the sky.Back on ground level, the area surrounding Mori Tower is a luxuriously perfect mix of open spaces and shops. Roppongi Keyakizaka Street, behind the tower, has cafés and luxury shops such as Luis Vuitton, whilst there are many gardens, parks and pavilions nearby. In springtime, the cherry trees of the traditional Mori Garden add their delicate colours to the landscape, and at the end of December, bright Christmas lights illuminate the complex with their magical glow.
