Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

102  T OK Y O AREA B Y AREA

here is Kotto-dori, another and probably its most
fashionable street, which exclusive. A number of high-
is full of antique shops profile Japanese are buried
selling scrolls, paintings, here, including former prime
and porcelain, among minister Shigeru Yoshida and
many other items. famed novelist Yukio Mishima.
This street is one of This tranquil, green spot is also
the hot test in Tokyo, a popular, though somber,
with some notable place to view cherry blossoms.
boutiques, cafés, and
shops springing up. The
area is a plea sant one in 0 Roppongi District
which to spend an after- Roppongi District
noon shopping or just
browsing. Returning to Map 2 E5.  Roppongi stn,
Aoyama-dori, near the Hibiya & Toei-Oedo lines. Mori Art
Museum: Tel (03) 5777-8600.
Omotesando junction Open 10am–10pm Tue–Sun (till
toward Shibuya, the 5pm Tue). Suntory Museum of Art:
next landmark is the Tel (03) 3479-8600. Open 10am–
white, geometric Spiral 6pm Wed–Mon (to 8pm Fri & Sat).
Building, which owes its
name to the large, spiral Roppongi is the music and club
ramp inside. Designed center of Tokyo. You can find just
The Spiral Building, Minami-Aoyama by Fumihiko Maki in about any music you want here:
1985, and one of the jazz, blues, ska, hip-hop, classic
9 Minami-Aoyama most popular places in Minami- disco, country and western, soul.
District Aoyama, this building is the This is also the place for big-
figurative definition of cool.
Minami-Aoyama District name inter national restaurant
There is nothing in it that can’t chains such as the Hard Rock
Map 1 C4–5, 2 D4–5.  Gaienmae be described as hip and trendy Café, Spago’s, and Tony Roma’s.
stn, Ginza line. Watari-Um (Watari (torendi in Japanese), and that Designed to be a “city within a
Museum of Contemporary Art): includes most of the people. city,” the Roppongi Hills complex
Tel (03) 3402-3001.Open 11am–7pm Attractions inside comprise a first- incorporates wide pedes trian
Tue–Sun (until 9pm Wed). & floor exhibition and performance squares, public walkways, a
∑ watarium.co.jp & ∑ mot-art- space, the Spiral Hall (on the third cinema complex and art gallery,
museum.jp Nezu Museum: Tel (03) floor), also used for exhibitions as well as restaurants, shops,
3400-2536. Open 10am–5pm Tue– and performances, an Italian café, offices, and apartments. The
Sun. ∑ nezu-muse.or.jp/en &
Aoyama Cemetery: Tel (03) 3401- a French restaurant, a stationery main building here is the
3652. Open 24 hours daily. & and housewares boutique, and 54-story Mori Tower, which
a beauty salon. houses the Mori Art Museum.
Favored by artists, writers, and Head eastwards towards The high-profile exhibitions
young entrepreneurs, this district the Nogizaka subway station here cover contemporary art,
lies between the large Aoyama for the Aoyama Cemetery, media art, design, and fashion.
Cemetery and Shibuya. Aoyama- Japan’s first public necropolis, The Tokyo City View observation
dori, the wide street at its heart,
is a center for boutiques and
upscale life. Omotesando crosses
it just about in the middle.
On Gaien-Nishi-dori, a
fashionable street nicknamed
“Killer-dori,” is the Watari-um
(Watari Museum of Contem-
porary Art). Exhibits are by
inter national and Japanese
artists, and change regularly.
The bookstore stocks an
excellent range of art books.
Back on Aoyama-dori, turn left
at the Omotesando junction for
the Nezu Museum, which houses
Japanese, Chinese, and Korean
art and is situated in landscaped
gardens containing traditional
teahouses. A short walk from Nighttime scene in the district of Roppongi
For hotels and restaurants see p302 and pp324–6

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