Tokyo/Akasaka

By train

Akasaka-Mitsuke station on the Metro Ginza and Marunouchi subway lines is at the northeastern edge of Akasaka. The station is connected by a handy, if rather long, tunnel to Nagatacho station on the Namboku, Hanzomon and Yurakucho lines.
Tameike-Sanno (Namboku/Ginza) is also in the area and a good access point for Hitotsugi-dori, the main thoroughfare through the Akasaka district.
Travelers from Narita Airport can take the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno, then transfer to the Ginza subway line (¥2,110, 90 min.), or add 15 minutes but lower the cost to ¥1,190 by taking the limited express instead of the Skyliner. The Narita Express isn't cost-effective unless you hold a rail pass, in which case you can travel to Tokyo Station and change for the Marunouchi line (85 min. total), paying only the subway fare of ¥160. Haneda Airport passengers can take the Keikyu line to Shimbashi, changing there for the Ginza line (¥720, 40 min.).
Many of the tourist attractions can also be reached by getting off at .

By bus

The Airport Limousine Bus makes convenient hourly runs (sometimes twice an hour) between Narita and major hotels in Akasaka (¥3,000, approx. 80-120 minutes).

In 2007, Akasaka Sacas opened to great fanfare. Much like the nearby competing Roppongi Hills or Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka Sacas is made up of Akasaka Biz Tower, chock-full of eateries and several shops, Akasaka BLITZ and ACT Theatre, and of course the iconic TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) building.

• Nogi's house and shrine

  phone: +81 3 3478-3001
  address: Akasaka 8-11-27
  General Nogi's house is a great example of Western architecture constructed during the Meiji period (19th century), mixing Japanese and Western elements. The general killed himself here after the Meiji Emperor's death. Descend the stairs to reach the shrine that was dedicated to him in 1917. Lonely place, very photogenic.

Tokyo Midtown

• Tokyo Midtown

  address: 9-7-1 Akasaka
  Opened in April 2007, this competitor to Roppongi Hills boasts Tokyo's tallest tower, a Ritz-Carlton and yet more endless acres of shopping and eating. Still, Midtown favors wood paneling and greenery over raw concrete and feels a little more human than Hills do. The main gallery (and the floor under) always have open Japanese art exhibits.

• 21_21 Design Sight

  phone: +81 33475 2121
  address: Midtown Hinokichō Park
  Changing exhibitions devoted to the latest and greatest in Japanese design.

• Fujifilm Square

  phone: +81 3 6271-3350
  address: Akasaka 9-7-3, Midtown West
  Fujifilm's exhibition space for the latest and greatest in photography. Exhibits are usually free and well worth a visit.

• Suntory Museum of Art

  address: Midtown Garden
  Hosts changing art exhibitions.

At night corporate Akasaka loosens its tie and comes to life: the blocks bounded by Sotobori-dori (外堀通り) and Hitotsugi-dori (一ッ木通り) are packed full of expensive restaurants and nightclubs, second only to the Ginza in swankiness. Both Japanese and international cuisine are very well represented, with places like Tenichi for tempura and Shabuzen for shabu-shabu, and others representing Indonesian, French, Mexican, Russian, Indian, Italian cuisines... If you name it, you'll probably find it.
Most restaurants cater mostly to the expense account set and are correspondingly expensive at dinner time (¥10000 and up is not uncommon). The best deals in Akasaka are therefore at lunch, since no matter how high their prices go in the evening, all these restaurants offer excellent lunch menus for ¥1000 or so.

• Ninja Akasaka

  phone: +81 3-5157-3936
  address: 2-14-3 Nagata-cho, Akasaka Tokyu Hotel Plaza 1F
  The entrance is a little difficult to find, but what do you expect from a restaurant designed like a hidden ninja fortress? Navigate through dark corridors, over bridges and trap doors to your hidden room, where ninja waiters attend to your needs while performing tricks and illusions. The food is delicious as well as being presented in unique ways that are sure to entertain. Pre-set menus (usually 7-10 courses) run anywhere from ¥7,000 up to ¥20,000, but items can also be ordered a-la-carte.

• Akasaka umaya

• Rokuhara Hojo

  address: B1
  Specializes in kushiage, counter in a very Japanese cozy atmosphere. 1000 yen lunch set with 9 skews and unlimited rice.

Akasaka is famous for its Korean restaurants:

• Ichiryu Bekkan

  phone: +81 3-3582-7008
  address: Akasaka 2-13-17 1st floor
  Their speciality (and only dish) is the Seolleongtang soup, a white broth with beef, served with many side dishes including kimchi. Add sel and pepper yourself to the soup at your convenience.

If you are on a budget try the lunch box from a supermarket.

• Preece Premium

  phone: +81 3 5413-5109
  address: Tokyo Midtown Basement
  Very good selection of imported foods.

Akasaka's hotels are all in the business/luxury category and charge a bit of a premium for their location.

• InterContinental Ana Tokyo

  phone: +81 3-35051111
  address: 1-12-33 Akasaka Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
  An international hotel and all staff can speak English. The rooms are a decent size compared to most American hotels. There is also a limousine bus connecting the ANA Hotel to Narita Airport - it takes approximately two hours and is available to both guests of the hotel and people with other accommodations.

• Hotel Asia Center of Japan

  phone: +81 3 3402-6111
  address: Akasaka 8-10-32
  Excellent budget hotel – no amenities like a gym or spa, but friendly staff, small but well-appointed rooms, restaurant. Free high-speed internet in room, coin internet in lobby. Laundry available.

• Ritz-Carlton Tokyo

  phone: +81 3 3423-8000
  address: 9-7-1 Akasaka
  Located on the top floors of the hip Midtown building, the tallest in Tokyo.