The Suntory Museum of Art was designed by Kengo Kuma to fuse Japanese tradition and modernity and create a space that serves as an inviting "urban living room." It is located on the third and fourth floors of Roppongi's Tokyo Midtown building. This museum's collection of 3,000 paintings, ceramics, lacquerware, dyed textiles, glassware, and more, are centered on Japanese art and the theme of "Art in Life."

The museum presents five or six themed exhibitions per year, with no permanent exhibition. It also incorporates a tearoom, museum shop and café. The museum hosts a lively roster of events such as tea gatherings and workshops.

Summary Credit: Go Tokyo

Photo Credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 〒107-8643 Tokyo, Minato City, Akasaka, 9 Chome−7−4, Inside Midtown Tokyo

Hours: Closed Tuesday, 10am - 6pm

Website: https://www.suntory.com/sma/?_ga=2.120020680.133672626.1596418115-531801853.1596418115

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Roppongi Station Exit 8 on the Hibiya Line

 

The National Art Center Tokyo is one of the five institutions organized under the  Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art. This museum is unique in that it doesn’t keep a permanent collection like most museums do, but rather utilizes it’s massive 14,000 square meter facility as one giant exhibition hall. The exhibitions are changing every month featuring different artists, themes and various art exhibitions.

Entrance fee: Depends on the exhibition

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Address:  7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-8558

Hours: Closed Tuesdays, 10am - 6pm (8:00pm on Friday and Saturday)

*If Tuesday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: 03-5777-8600

Website: https://www.nact.jp/english/

How to get there: The museum is directly connected to Nogizaka Stations Exit 6 on the Chiyoda Line. It is a 4 minute walk from exit 7 of Roppongi Station on the Tokyo metro Hibiya Line and Toei Oedo Subway.

 

The Mori Art Museum has been engaged in the acquisition of contemporary art works primarily from Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, amassing a total of over 400 works (as of March 2019) in a diverse range of media, including painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, video and installation.
Items from the collection in turn according to specific themes are showcased in MAM Collection program series.

Summary Credit: Mori Art Museum Website

Photo Credit: Mori Art Museum Website

Address: 〒106-6150 Tokyo, Minato City, Roppongi, 6 Chome−10−1, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 53rd floor

Hours: 10am - 10pm

Website: https://www.mori.art.museum/en/index.html

How to get there: A 7 minute walk from Roppongi Station Exit 1b on the Hibiya Line

 

Roppongi Hills is one of the best examples of a city within the city. Opened in 2003 in the heart of Tokyo's Roppongi district, the building complex features offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, a hotel, art museum, observation deck and more. The office floors are home to leading companies from the IT and financial sectors, and Roppongi Hills has become a symbol of the Japanese IT industry.

At the center of Roppongi Hills stands the 238 meter Mori Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city. While most of the building is occupied by office space, the first few floors have restaurants and shops and the top few floors house an observation deck and modern art museum that are open to the public.

Other areas of interest in Roppongi Hills include the Mori Garden just behind the tower and the Grand Hyatt luxury hotel. Numerous shopping and dining options can be found all across the complex, and there is also a large Toho Cinemas movie theater that plays both Japanese and international movies. The headquarters of TV Asahi are also located on the grounds.

Summary Credit: Japan Guide

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

Address: 6 Chome-10-1 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-6108

Hours: Varies on stores, restaurant, complex

Website: https://www.roppongihills.com/en/

How to get there: A 2 minute walk from Roppongi Station Exit 1a on the Hibiya Line

 

Kawagoe sits in Saitama Prefecture which lies directly above Tokyo. But don’t worry, it’s an easy and short trip out depending on what part of Tokyo you leave from. The easiest way is from Ikebukuro Station which is on the major JR Line. At Ikebukuro Station, transfer onto the Tobu Tojo Line. On this line it’s only about 3 stops away! Nice and simple. Kawagoe is also accessible from Shibuya and Shinjuku. Get onto the Fukutoshin Line. The Fukutoshin Line will change into the Tobu Tojo which is straight shot to Kawagoe. It might take an extra 30 minutes but it’s still doable.

Once you arrive at Kawagoe Station, you can go to the Tourist Info Center to ask for a one day bus pass on the Tobu Bus Lines. This can be used on any Tobu Bus and Koedo Loop Bus. Because Kawagoe does not have many trains, you’ll get around town by either the two buses or by foot. It’s definitely walk-able, especially if you’re looking for some exercise!

We recommend taking a look at Kitain Temple and then Hikawa Shrine first. These two will be easier to access by bus. From Kawagoe Station, take the bus to Kitain Temple. Then, from Kitain Temple, take the bus to Shinmeicho Shako bus stop for Hikawa Shrine. From Hikawa Shrine it’s a short walk to to Kurazukuri Street - the main attraction of Kawagoe. At Kurazukuri you can explore Candy Alley, Kanetsuki Street and Taisho Roman Dori. From here you can either take the bus back to Kawagoe Station or walk back. It’s approximately a 15-20 minute walk back.

Remember Kawagoe is a full day trip out from Tokyo. It’s not far, but make sure to arrive early (not too early or else the stores won’t be open!) to make sure you can explore this beautiful town without rushing. You can also speak to the friendly English speaking staff at the Tourist info Center at Kawagoe Station for more information and questions you may have.

 

Adjacent to the main Kurazukuri Street sits Candy Alley - a street filled with many shops selling snacks, sweets, rice crackers, ice cream, Japanese cakes and Kawagoe’s famous sweet potato snacks/desserts. There are also shops selling toys and souvenirs. After the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake there was massive fall in sweets supply in Japan. As a response, orders at Candy Alley surged. At that time, over 70 stores existed in the street. Now, about 20 still remain. It has maintained the same nostalgic feeling and serves as a great place to experience traditional Japanese snacks and sweets.

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

Address: 2 Chome Motomachi, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0062

Hours: Stores are typically open around 10am - 5pm

Website: Click Here

How to get there: A short walk from the main Kurazukuri street

 

Both these streets are close and actually branch out from the main Kurazukuri Street. Kanetsuki Street is famous for their old clock tower that was constructed in the early 1600s (reconstructed several times) which chimes at 6am, 12pm, 3pm and 6pm. It is considered as one of the Best 100 sounds of Japan. A long this road you can find many popular food stands. You can even find a Starbucks in the the form of an old traditional building!

On Taisho Roman Dori, there are roughly 30 stores lined up on 200 meters of streets designed from the Taisho period (1912-1926). Some of the stores has been in business for over 100 years! It lies directly between Kurazukuri Street and Hon-Kawagoe Station if you’re looking to check it out on the way to the station.

Photo Credit: Matcha JP

Address: N/A

Hours: Stores are typically open around 10am - 8pm

Website: N/A

How to get there: From Kawagoe Station, take the Tobu Bus to Kurazuki Street

 

Discover anime and manga heaven at this massive shopping complex in Nakano. While Akihabara is known to be the center of anime and manga, Nakano Broadway is the hidden, secret sibling. it’s a hidden gem in the outskirts of Tokyo. The second and third floors are where most of anime and manga goods are while the first and basement floors sell produce, clothes, second hand goods and shoes. They also have many antiique shops including watch shops, camera shops, video games and little souvenir shops as well.

Don’t miss out on the following stores:

• The dozen or so Mandarake shops selling anime and manga goods

• The world famous Bar Zingaro with the 2004 World Barista Champion and 2005 World Cup Tasting Champion Tim Wendelboe’s coffee beans and book 

• 8 layer ice cream at Daily Chico

Entrance Fee: Free

Photo credit: Live Japan

Address: 5-52 Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo 164-0001

Hours: Varies on store, but typically around 11am - 7pm

Website: https://nakano-broadway.com/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Nakano Station on the JR Line.

 

This famous street in Kawagoe looks like a street that would be used in an old Edo-era (1603-1868) film. Kurazukuri literally means warehouse styled buildings (clay walled). Formally an old commercial town supplying resources to Edo (now Tokyo), the merchants in the area grew wealthy enough to build their own warehouses, but also their own stores in the same kurazukuri style which was unusual to other places. Some of the buildings remain to this day, and now the streets are lined up in this old warehouse styled buildings. They are now occupied with many shops and restaurants.

Photo Credit: Travel Blog

Address: 7-9 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0063

Hours: Most shops are open from 10am - 8pm

Website: N/A

How to get there: It’s a 15 minute walk from Hikawa Shrine. From Kawagoe Station you can take the Tobu Bus as well.

 

The Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is said to have been build about 1500 years ago.
Since family gods are enshrined here, many people who want to find a good match will visit this shrine, since it is said to give blessings in “family satisfaction, perfect couples, and marriage”.
Those looking for a partner or for a happy marriage should come and visit this shrine.

An ema is a small wooden board that people write their wishes and dreams on to have them fulfilled. At the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, worshipers that write on the marriage ema hang them in the tunnel, and visitors can walk through this tunnel filled with people’s wishes and dreams.

After visiting the shrine, be sure to get an omikuji (fortune). One omikuji at this shrine is the “aitai-mikuji” which predicts your love fate. It has an unusual shape of a “tai” (sea bream fish), which is a play on words since “aitai” means you want to see someone. In Japan, the tai is seen as a good omen.

To learn more, please read this article

Love Blessing at the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine 

http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/chokotabi-saitama/eng/travelmag/06.html

Summary Credit: Saitama Prefecture Government

Address: 2-11, Miyashitamachi, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama, 350-0052, Japan

Hours: 9am - 5pm

Website: https://www.kawagoehikawa.jp/

How to get there: From Kawagoe Station, take the Tobu Bus to Shinmeicho Shako