Tokyo Midtown is a huge commercial and entertainment development in Roppongi that houses a large luxury shopping mall, office towers, hotels, museums and gardens.
Opened in 2007, hot on the heels of Roppongi Hills, it helped clean up the Roppongi district’s reputation as a seedy nightlife district and reposition it as a high-end destination.
The multi-story Galleria shopping mall within the development includes a mixture of local and international brand stores, plus restaurants, bars and cafes. The basement area includes a selection of foreigner-friendly casual eateries that are an easy option for lunch or dinner. Seek out the dog-grooming salon to see how Tokyo’s rich pamper their pets. The Suntory Museum of Art, which features exhibitions of traditional Japanese art is housed within the mall.
Outside features the Midtown Garden, a pleasant green area with water features, a large lawn area where seasonal events are held and the 2121 Design Sight museum.
To the rear of the development is Hinokicho Park, a quiet and peaceful Japanese garden with streams and a pond that was once a feudal lord’s garden.
A visit to Tokyo Midtown is worthwhile if only to see how well the development balances large commercial scale with design and greenery. Otherwise stop by for a shop, something to eat or drink, a visit to one of the two museums or a walk through the greenery.
Address: 9 Chome-7-1 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo
Getting there: Direct connection from Roppongi Station Exit 8 (Toei Oedo Line)
Nearby: Hotel New Otani Japanese Garden, Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo City View, The National Art Centre Tokyo
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