Page 99 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

Roppongi and Akasaka ❮❮ 97

Zojo-ji Temple
9 A DAY IN THE ART TRIANGLE
MAP E6 • 4-7-35 Shiba-koen,
Minato-ku • 3432-1431 • Open Nogi Shrine 21_21 Design Sight
6am–5:30pm • www.zojoji.or.jp/en Gallery Ma
Another victim of World War II air Bodega Santa Rita
raids, Zojo-ji temple is a 1970s ferro- National Art Suntory
concrete reconstruction. The original Center, Tokyo Museum of Art
temple was founded in 1393 and
then removed to its present location, Roppongi
next to Tokyo Tower, in 1598. In the Station
next century, it was chosen by the Mori Art Museum Roppongi
Mori Tower,
Tokugawa shoguns as their ancestral Hills
temple. Today, the temple hosts MORNING
many religious events. The main hall
contains ancient statues, written Leave Roppongi Station by Exit 1,
sutras, and other sacred objects, which leads directly into
while the Ankokuden hall holds the Roppongi Hills (see p94); at the
Black Image of Amida Buddha, known top of the escalator is Louise
as a miracle-working buddha that Bourgeouis’s Maman, a giant
sculpture of a spider and one
gives victory and defends against evil. of many pieces of public art
surrounding the shopping and
business complex. Head to the top
of Mori Tower for the excellent
Mori Art Museum (see p45) and the
urban vistas of the Tokyo City View
observation deck. Cross Roppongi-
dori and walk north to the National
Art Center, Tokyo (see p95), a huge
12-room art venue where you can
view an eclectic mix of art,
displayed as part of a changing
program of temporary exhibitions.
You can also dine here at Brasserie
Paul Bocuse Le Musée (see p99),
set atop a massive inverted
concrete cone. Take time to admire
the views before setting off again.
AFTERNOON
Head north in the direction of
Ankokuden hall, Zojo-ji temple
Nogi Shrine (see p95), and then
San-mon Gate
0 visit Gallery Ma. Sponsored by the
bathroom appliance and fixtures
MAP E6 • Shiba-koen,
Minato-ku company Toto, its exhibitions
focus mainly on architecture
Fires and earthquakes have been and the latest trends in design.
reducing Tokyo’s buildings to rubble The gallery also has an excellent
for over 400 years, but the San-mon bookstore. Retrace your steps
gate, the main entrance to Zojo-ji toward Roppongi Crossing to
find Tokyo Midtown (see p95),
temple, has remained miraculously where you can check out what’s
intact. The oldest wooden structure showing at either the Suntory
in the city, it was erected in 1605. Museum of Art or the 21_21
The three tiers of the red-lacquered Design Sight (see p51). Bodega
gate, an Important Cultural Treasure, Santa Rita (see p99), one of many
represent the three stages required restaurants and bars in the
to enter Nirvana. The gate looks complex, is ideal for a drink and
especially awesome at night, when tapas after a day of sightseeing.
it is illuminated.
See map on p94

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