Roppongi (六本木), Tokyo

Roppongi (六本木) is a district in Minato ward, Tokyo. It is famous for its nightlife and its affluent Roppongi Hills neighbourhood. Roppongi is located at the southern portion of the Yamanote Line. It is to the south of Akasaka and to the north of Azabu.

Roppongi Hills Tower


The name Roppongi means "six trees", a name that dates back to 1660. There are a few theories as to how the district got its name. According to one theory, it was named after six daimyos who lived in the area during the Edo period. Each of the daimyo has the kanji character of "tree" (木) to his name, hence six trees. According to another story, Roppongi refers to six very old zelkova trees which once marked the area. The trees were however destroyed during the Second World War.

The Roppongi area has been built and rebuilt several times through its long history. It was devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and then by US bombings during World War II. In the aftermath of the war, Roppongi because a nightlife district catering to the large number of US servicemen in the area. Over time, as clientele became Japanese as the foreigners leave for home.

By the 1970's, Roppongi became a popular hang out for Tokyo's elites. The area has numerous discos attracting locals and foreigners. However, it somewhat lost its luster when the market crashed in 1989, forcing many of the clubs and discos to shut down.

Roppongi Hills as seen from Tokyo Tower


Roppongi district received a much-needed economic boost in 2002, when Izumi Garden Tower and Roppongi Hills brought an element of affluent living to this part of Tokyo. In their wake came Tokyo Midtown and the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, putting the Roppongi name on the map as the watering hole of the rich in Tokyo.

A number of multinational companies are based in Roppongi, among them Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Credit Suisse, Ferrari Japan, Genco, Golman Sachs, Google Japan, Pokemon, and TV Asahi.

Roppongi Station, Hibiya Line

Going to Roppongi

Take the Hibiya Line (H-04) or Oedo Line (E-23) to the Roppongi Subway Station or take the Namboku Line (N-06) to the Roppongi-itchome Station.

What to see in Roppongi

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