Tokyo/Roppongi

"Roppongi" literally means "six trees", as six very old and large trees used to mark the area centuries ago. Nothing remains from this period, as the area was destroyed by the great 1923 earthquake, and then by World War II bombings.
Driven by the presence of the Japanese (and then American) military, nightlife has been thriving since the 19th century. Since 1960, the disco scene has attracted all party-goers, Japanese and foreigners alike. Even though "Roppongi" is still synonym of "clubbing", the area has become the trendy place for large corporations to have their headquarters: Google, Apple, Yahoo, Goldman Sachs, and even The Pokemon Company. To accommodate this growth, three office/entertainment skyscrapers have been built in the last decade.
Roppongi is the most cosmopolitan place in Japan, with the highest concentration of embassies, consulates and foreign residents, making it a must-see multicultural melting-pot like nowhere else in the country. Roppongi is also a modern art hub. Despite the frenzy, Roppongi has many peaceful green areas, and still is home to many local residents, so don't hesitate to explore the back alleys, you will find small parks, temples, and local life going on.

By train

The Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (grey, H04) spans from South-West Tokyo to the North-East, via Ebisu, Ginza, Akihabara and Ueno.
The Toei Ōedo Line (purple, E23) makes a large "6" shape around Tokyo, it is the best way to come from Shinjuku or Yoyogi.

By bus

Until about 9pm, you can catch an eastbound Toei public bus anywhere along Roppongi-dori (which runs beneath an easy to spot elevated highway), starting at Shibuya station. Mention to the driver you'd like to get off at Roppongi just in case.

By foot

From Shibuya, you can walk east to Roppongi in about 40 minutes via Roppongi-dori, which you might enjoy it if you like walking along elevated highways. In the daytime, you can jump on one of the frequent buses that travel along this road.
Perhaps more interesting is the walk west from the Imperial Palace, which takes about twice as long, but features a view of the Diet Building, some nice parks and other interesting architecture.
Alternatively, take a 10-15 minute walk from Tameike-Sannō (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, orange, G06), Roppongi-Itchōme (Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, blue-green, N05), or Nogizaka (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, green, N05). As these stations are all located in different areas, best to check a map before setting out.
A nice idea could be to get off at Azabu-jūban (Namboku Line or Ōedo Line), enjoy tea or dinner in the main shopping area (exit 4, Azabu-jūban station), before walking North to Roppongi at night (10 minutes).

• Roppongi CrossingThe heart of Roppongi is this big intersection of Roppongi-dōri (六本木通り), under the elevated highway, and Gaien-higashi-dōri (外苑東通り).

• address: 7-22-2 Roppongi
  Tokyo's latest and greatest art museum, housed in an undulating wave-shaped building designed by Kisho Kurokawa and devoted entirely to changing exhibitions.

• Sumitomo Collection

  phone: +81-3-5777-8600
  address: 1-5-1 Roppongi
  Since the 19th century, the Sumitomo family has collected art objects, such as bronzes, ustensils and paintings, mostly from Japan and China.

Roppongi Hills

• Roppongi Hills

  phone: +81 3 6406-6000
  address: 6-10-1 Roppongi
  Roppongi Hills is an expansive shopping and entertainment complex, sleek and modern. It opened with much fanfare and remains popular. It has a number of attractions centered around the 53-story Mori Tower.

• Mohri GardenIn 2003, thousands of small Japanese killifish were liberated into this small park's pond after living in outer space as part as an experiment, they were the first animals to breed in space. You might also see duck families in Spring.

• Mori Art Museum

  phone: +81 3 5777-8600
  address: Mori Tower, 53F
  This impressive art gallery hosts special exhibitions. The museum ticket includes admission to Tokyo City View. The Mori Arts Center Gallery adjacent to the Mori Art Museum requires separate admission (prices vary), not included with the Tokyo City View / Mori Art Museum ticket.

• Tokyo City View

  phone: +81 3 6406-6652
  address: Mori Tower, 52F
  This viewing deck gives you a 360º view of the city from 250 meters above sea level. Ticket includes admission to the Mori Art Museum.

• Tokyo city modelA photo-realistic model of downtown Tokyo, with every real-life building photographed and its photo glued onto its 1:1000 scale model. Can be seen by appointment.

• Karaoke-kan

  phone: +81 3 5786-9400
  address: Roppongi 5-1-6

• Nagomi Spa and Fitness

  phone: +81 3 4333-1234
  address: Grand Hyatt Tokyo Hotel, 6-10-3 Roppongi

• TV Asahi

  address: Roppongi 6-9-1
  Headquarters of the television network that created Doraemon. Visit the mini-museum, complete with full-size models of the Doraemon world and of other popular Japanese TV shows.

• Virgin Toho Cinemas

  phone: +81 3 5775-6090
  address: Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka
  If you are going to put down the going rate of nearly ¥1800 for a movie in Tokyo, this is the place to do it. Only ¥1000 every 1st and 14th of the month for normal screens. The nine-screen cinema has futuristic decor, THX and reserved seating. On Fridays and Saturdays this theater is open all night, so you can catch a movie if you are staying out late and are planning to catch the morning train.

Events & Festivals

• Roppongi Art NightModern art invades the whole area from afternoon to the next morning. Many interactive exhibits, fun for kids too.

• Roppongi Hills Bon Odori & Azabujuban Noryo Festival

  phone: +81 3-6406-6000
  Locals dance around drums in Japanese yukata dress in the Arena part of Roppongi Hills, expect Doraemon to make a surprise appearance to the delight of the kids. Continue your walk to the adjacent Azabujuban main street where all of the usually expensive restaurants set up a great variety of stalls and sell delicious food at reasonable prices.

• In the first several floors of and the adjoining buildings, there are heaps of shopping spots, nearly all are upscale. Similarly, most of the restaurants have a lot of style, and with prices to match.

• Aoyama Book Center

  phone: +81 3 3479-0479
  address: Roppongi 6-1-20

• Don Quixote

  phone: +81 3 3479-0479
  address: Roppongi 3-14-10
  Discount store, 5 floors of everything you can think of, including clothing, electronics, costumes and Japanese souvenirs. Second floor sells drinks and food, large selection of snacks.

Not surprisingly, Roppongi has a plethora of international restaurants, and generally some of the best restaurants in Tokyo (though some research is needed to find them.)
Below budget? Lunch boxes can be found in any of the many convenience stores for around ¥400, and there are several supermarkets in the area:

• Lincos

  phone: +81 3 3478-1665
  address: near Roppongi Hills, same building as Tsutaya Roppongi
  Sophisticated bentos, you can eat them outside as there are tables and chairs just for that.

Budget

Turkish and other fast-foods are popular for people getting out of clubs, but there are numerous healthier yet affordable options. Unlike more expensive restaurants, these usually have the same prices for lunch and dinner.

• Fujisoba

  address: Roppongi 7-14-10
  Small buckwheat noodle place. Healthy and popular with budget-conscious office workers.

• IppudoA chain, but arguably the best ramen in the area.

• SpajiroGreat spaghettis, Italian or Japanese-style.

• TETSU

  address: Roppongi Hills, Metro Hat B2F
  Dip cold noodles into tasty thick hot soup, this is tsukemen! Free soup refill. If your soup gets cold, ask for the spectacular soup heating iron.
• Numerous fast-food chains are available, including Subway, McDonald's, and SoupStock.

• Go!Go!CurryJapanese-style curry rice.

Mid-range

Around Roppongi Crossing:

• Tsurutontan

  phone: +81 3 5786-2626
  address: Roppongi 3-14-12
  Huge delicious udon noodles. If you are very hungry, ask for twice or triple serving, it is free! Great udon, comfy atmosphere, but expect to wait 20 minutes before getting a seat.

• Bangkok

  address: 3-8-8, Woo Bldg, 2F
  A lunchtime legend. Pad thai special on Thursdays (¥980) is divine.

• yelo

  phone: +81 3-3423-2121
  address: Roppongi 5-2-11
  Not really hungry? Go for shaved ice with toppings like you've never seen before. Try the tiramisu, watermelon or organic carrot mascarpone.

Splurge

• Atelier de Joel Robuchon

  phone: +81 3 5772-7500
  address: Roppongi Hills Hillside 2F, 6-10-1 Roppongi
  The first overseas venture of the eponymous Paris-based Michelin-starred chef. Each dish is a work of art almost as breathtaking as the price tag, as courses cost ¥2900–¥12,800 — still a steal by Tokyo gourmet standards. Reservations by telephone only.

• Fukuzushi

  phone: +81 3 3402-4116
  address: 5-7-8, Roppongi
  Sushi place. Set menus are available, and their ¥3000 lunch set is excellent. Dress code: No sleeveless for men.

• Nihonryori RyuGin

  phone: +81 3 3423-8006
  address: 1st Floor, 7-17-24 Roppongi
  Combining a deep respect for the Japanese culinary heritage with a will to pushing boundaries has made Nihonryori RyuGin to regarded as one of the world's best restaurants. Serves a daily-changing fix menu based on what's available at the market.

• Roku Roku

  phone: +81 3 4333-8788
  address: Grand Hyatt 6F, Roppongi Hills
  This complex of six restaurants on the sixth floor is a good choice if price is not an issue. You can choose between sushi, steak, Japanese and Chinese, and will be looking at upwards of ¥5000 per head on the bill.

• Sushi Saito

  phone: +81 3-3589-4412
  Described as somewhat of a hidden gem, this three Michelin star restaurant run by renowned "sushi maestro" Takashi Saito. With just eight seats, reservations should be made early.

Roppongi is the place to be (late) at night, although you might expect to encounter some non-Japanese street promoters, urging you to just take a free look in their strip clubs, and occasionally trying to shake your hand. The scene continues late into the night, and many bars, clubs, and discos are open until 4–5AM when the first trains run in the morning.
There are innumerable watering holes, and generally speaking, first floor and ground floor establishments cater to young adults and foreigners while higher stories feature more exclusive clubs aimed at slightly older Japanese males. An ID is required by many clubs, so bring along your passport. Note that many of the clubs are very small, and leaving and re-entering without paying the entry charge again is often not possible.
Beware of touts inviting you into clip joints, some of which will go so far as to spike your drinks to wring you dry. Avoid going to a bar you've never heard of with someone that you didn't know before your journey. Leave your credit cards at home, since in a bid to combat fraud an increasing number of bars accept only cash anyway.

Bars for drinking

These bars are perfect for those who came to enjoy the taste of beer rather than for dancing.

• Abbott's Choice

  phone: +81 3 3475-0353
  address: Kato Building, 2F, 5-1-5 Gaien-Higashi
  Small, decent bar with NYC pop radio. Attracts a nice mix of tourists, expats and locals. A really welcome respite from the overpriced and overrated bars in the surrounding area.

• BrewDog

  phone: +81 3-6447-4160
  address: 5-3-2 Roppongi
  The only Japanese antenna of the Scottish franchise, this bar has twenty different European and Japanese craft beers on tap.

• Tokyo Sports Cafe

  phone: +81 3 5411-8939
  address: Fusion Blg.2F, 7-13-8 Roppongi
  This bar is located right around the corner from Feria. Despite the name, this is a bar, primarily showing Soccer and Baseball (NFL Superbowl party yearly). The best thing about this bar is Friday night, which is Models Night. It attracts the same crowd as Feria, so you can go to Tokyo Sports Cafe first, then head out to Feria when the models move there.

Bars for partying

These bars are open all night, and dancing is the norm. Usually entrance is free but drinks can be more expensive than in real clubs.

• Bar Quest Roppongi

  phone: +81 3 5414-2225
  address: 3F Rene No.2 Bldg, 5-3-1
  Serves a selection of Aussie lagers including VB, Crown Lager and Coopers, cocktails and meat pies. A big-screen TV and a wide range of music played by DJs provide ongoing entertain­ment. You can also kick back Australian-style along the U-shaped bar.

• Black Horse

  address: Roppongi 3-14-12 B1F
  One of the better known places in the local expat community. It gets crowded late at night. The best nights here are Thursdays, though Fridays and Saturdays are also packed. On Thursdays, women get free champagne and chocolate fondue all night.

• Motown

  phone: +81 3 5474-4605
  address: Roppongi 3-11-5
  Up a flight of stairs to the left of TGI Friday's. No cover except for special events, drinks are reasonable and the staff is English friendly. Popular among expats for its smaller size and music selection, you can often find groups or solo western businessmen (and women) on expense accounts into the wee hours of the morning. Does get crowded at times, so go early if you actually want enough space to dance.

• Propaganda

  phone: +81 3 3423-0988
  address: Yua Roppongi Building 2F, 3-14-9 Roppongi
  An appropriately grubby joint decorated with propaganda posters and booming bass, playing mostly recent hits. The friendly staff parties as hard as the customers.

• The First Bar

  phone: +81 3 5785-2705
  address: B1F Roi Bldg
  Touts itself as the biggest bar in Roppongi, which since it's not a club like Ageha, just might be true. Ladies usually get complimentary drink, wine, champagne or whatnot at the door. Normally house music, so the stuff you hear walking down Roppongi-dori. There's pool and darts in back, but a nice drink selection, which is a bit of a cocktail bar.

• Wall Street Bar

  phone: +81 3 5478-7659
  address: 3F Marina Bldg, 3-10-5 Roppongi
  Wall Street Bar 1 is in the small street near TGI Friday's, the side of the Korn building will have a poster pointing to it. There are also always staff members on the street recruiting the bar so you can always just ask them for the way. A Wall Street Bar 2 has also opened, past the Don Quixote and across the adjacent street . Be sure to ask for the fire show around 1AM – a tip will be appreciated, but not expected, and it will be worth hanging around. There's also a card available, at Wall Street Bar 1, possibly Bar 2, free shot and first drink ¥500. If a packed bar with loud music is what you are looking for, then you are good to come during the weekend. During weekdays the bar is more a lounge and chill out stop.

Clubs

Most of the clubs are in the Gaien Higashi street, at the right of subway exit 3.

• 1AOK

  phone: +81 3 6447 2002
  address: Roppongi 5-10-25
  Dance music, plays the top hits of the moment.

• Red Area

  address: 3-14-11 Roppongi
  The best known of Roppongi's many meat markets, formerly Gaspanic (renamed late 2013). Although it was previously where desperate foreigner men and desperate women hoping to score would congregate, it has recently taken on a much more Japanese vibe. There are lots of young people looking good, but it is not nearly as easy to score as it used to be. Plenty of eye candy, but if you want a hookup, you are advised to go to Black Horse, which is right next door. Nobody ever admits to going here, but it's packed tighter than the lower circles of Hell on most weekends. On Thursdays ("Happy Gaspanic Day") all drinks are ¥300 all night, while the rest of the time prices vary from ¥600–1000. The amount of alcohol in the drinks varies greatly, depending on the bartenders and the crowd. Notorious pickpocket spot.

• IBEX

  phone: +81 3 3746-1075
  address: Aries Bldg. 4F, 3-15-24 Roppongi
  Hip-hop, R&B, and reggae club.

• Odeon Club

  phone: +81 3 3478-4555
  address: HanaTsubaki Bldg. 3F, 3-15-23 Roppongi
  Mix of hip-hop and techno. one of the most popular after hours nightclubs open from 10:00 pm until 12.00 noon the next day

Sleeping is probably the last thing on your mind when here. There are plenty of places to hang out between the last train and the first one in the morning, but not surprisingly, very few of them are inexpensive.
Note that if you are a foreigner, then all hotels will require your actual passport in order to make a photocopy. These are all legitimate hotels, not love hotels. So if you find yourself needing a love hotel, your best bet is to take a cab to Shibuya.

Mid-range

• Hotel Arca Torre Roppongi

  phone: +81 3 3404-5111
  address: Roppongi 6-1-23
  Also super centrally located at Roppongi Crossing, with small but acceptable rooms (the cheap ones are without daylight)

• Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi

  phone: +81 3 3560-1110
  address: Roppongi 1-6-2 Izumi Garden
  Nice and spacious rooms targeting business travelers.

• the b

  phone: +81 3 5412-0451
  address: 3-9-8 Roppongi
  Super centrally located at Roppongi Crossing (center of night life area), 2 minutes to subway Hibiya and Oedo line, renovated in spring 2006, nice but small rooms.

Splurge

• Grand Hyatt Tokyo

  phone: +81 3 4333-1234
  address: 6-10-3 Roppongi
  A part of Roppongi Hills, and not to be confused with the more famous Park Hyatt of Lost in Translation fame, which is in Shinjuku. Sleek and minimalistic, all black, gray and brown, with expensive design that never hesitates to sacrifice function for form, but the superlative service makes up for it.

Roppongi has, by Japanese standards, a slightly dangerous reputation and even makes it onto the US Department of State's Consular Information Sheet, probably mostly for lack of anything else to warn about. The main hazard is drunken fights, which should be steered clear of, as standard operating procedure for the police is to grab everybody in the vicinity and lock them up until things are sorted out, which may take some time. Some petty theft also occurs in crowded bars and clubs. In case of problem or for lost/stolen items, a police station can be found easily at the Roppongi Crossing.
While that is the general perception of Roppongi, it is far less dangerous than the other major areas that cater to foreigners in Asia. It is not even the most dangerous place in Tokyo in terms of clubs hustling customers: that distinction goes to Kabukichō and its Yakuza-owned hostess bars. Remember that, even if Roppongi is slightly dangerous by Japanese standards, Japanese crime standards are very different than those in much of the world. Roppongi is very safe, as long as you are not there during an earthquake. Many young women walk on the street alone late at night in complete comfort. The main danger is to your wallet.
Be wary of hustlers on the streets, who will often try to talk foreigners into going to hideously overpriced gentleman's bars or clubs – the extent of the overpricing may not even be apparent until you get the bill at 5:00AM. They can be quite persistent, especially if they think you might be in the military, but don't get angry or even speak with them: they will leave you alone after 10 seconds if you just keep walking and ignore them completely. Some clip joints send foreign female confederates into other bars to pick up clueless-looking targets, and some have been known to spike your drink and then ravage your credit card while you're out cold. If you want to escape Roppongi with your wallet intact, stick to places with a sizable crowd, and don't bring your credit card, as many places don't accept them anyway. Never go to a gentleman's bar suggested by someone you just met, and as usual, don't leave your drinks unattended.

• Walk 15 minutes to Tokyo Tower and the Zojoji temple, described in the Minato article.
• Complete a night of decadent debauchery with a sushi breakfast at Tsukiji, a few stops down the Oedo Line.
• Shibuya (3km) and Aoyama (2km) are within walking distance. (Or, if it's daytime, take a ¥210 bus.)