Roppongi Hills guide: history, hidden spots and events nearby

A district that took 17 years and talks with about 400 landowners to build, opening on April 25, 2003. The 238 m Mori Tower holds the Tokyo City View observation deck on the 52nd floor and the Mori Art Museum of contemporary art on the 53rd. At its foot, Mohri Garden carries on the garden of an Edo-period feudal lord's residence.

Kyochika's tips

The place changes with the clock: observatory and museum by day, Mohri Garden at dusk, Keyakizaka at night. Our suggestion is to arrive in the afternoon and stay into the evening. The observatory is open until 22:00, so the night view can come last.
Around November 3 is said to be the time to see “Diamond Fuji,” the sun setting behind Mt. Fuji, from the observatory. In 2026 the Keyakizaka illumination starts November 5, the Mohri Garden lights November 13 and the Christmas market in O-yane Plaza November 21, so in November you could do it all in one evening.

Events near Roppongi Hills now and coming up

Within 1.5 km, nearest first. Checked against official pages.

Visiting info

Tokyo City View (52F)	10:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30). Closed October 27 and November 10–12, 2026. Timed-entry tickets; walk-ins only if slots are free
Tokyo City View admission	At the counter / online: adults ¥2,400 / ¥2,200, students (high school and university) ¥1,700 / ¥1,600, children (age 4 to junior high) ¥1,100 / ¥1,000, seniors 65+ ¥2,100 / ¥1,900. October 28–30 and November 4–9: adults ¥2,000 / ¥1,800 and so on. Free for age 3 and under and for holders of a disability certificate plus one companion
Mori Art Museum (53F)	“Mariko Mori: All That Shines” runs October 31, 2026 – March 28, 2027. 10:00–22:00 (Tuesdays until 17:00; November 3 until 18:00, November 27 until 17:00; October 31 until 6:00 the next morning for Roppongi Art Night). Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Open daily during exhibitions; closed between exhibitions
Mori Art Museum admission	“Mariko Mori: All That Shines”: weekdays adults ¥2,800, students ¥1,700, seniors 65+ ¥2,400; weekends and holidays adults ¥3,000, students ¥1,800, seniors ¥2,600; junior high and under free. Timed-entry tickets
Mohri Garden	7:00–23:00, open every day, free
Payment	Mori Art Museum accepts cash, VISA, JCB, Mastercard, AMEX and UnionPay
Address	6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Roppongi Hills Mori Tower; ticket counter on 3F)
Getting there	Hibiya Line Roppongi Station Exit 1C: 3 min via the concourse. Oedo Line Roppongi Exit 3: 6 min. Oedo Line Azabu-Juban Exit 7: 9 min. Chiyoda Line Nogizaka Exit 5: 10 min

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the official pages. Hours and fees can change; please check before you go.

Sources: 六本木ヒルズミュージアム・展望台「来館のご案内」 (Japanese) / 東京シティビュー「入場チケットの料金改定について」 (Japanese) / インターネットミュージアム「森万里子：燦燦」 (Japanese) / GO TOKYO「森美術館」 (Japanese) / GO TOKYO「毛利庭園」 (Japanese)

What was here before Roppongi Hills?

In 1650, Mori Hidemoto, grandson of the warlord Mori Motonari and first lord of the Chofu domain, built his main Edo residence here. Its garden is the origin of today's Mohri Garden. At the end of the Edo period the shogunate confiscated the estate after the Kinmon Incident and the Choshu expeditions, and its buildings were torn down.

In 1887 Masujima Rokuichiro, first head of the English Law School (forerunner of Chuo University), acquired the land, lived here and named the garden “Hokien.” In 1952 Nikka Whisky bought it for its Tokyo plant, and the pond became known as “Nikka Pond.” In 1977 it became TV Asahi land.

For the redevelopment, which also took in the surrounding residential area, Mori Building spent 14 years negotiating with about 400 landowners and residents, and the whole project took 17 years. At 11.6 hectares it was then Japan's largest urban redevelopment, and it opened on April 25, 2003.

Sources: 東京都交通局「毛利庭園」 (Japanese) / ニッポン旅マガジン「毛利庭園（毛利甲斐守邸跡）」 (Japanese) / nippon.com「森ビルに見る東京再生の試み」 (Japanese)

Where ten of the 47 ronin took their lives

After the 47 ronin of Ako attacked Kira's mansion in Genroku 15, they were placed in the custody of several feudal lords. Ten of them were entrusted to the Mori family of the Chofu domain, then led by its third lord Mori Tsunamoto, here at this residence.

On the 4th day of the 2nd month of Genroku 16 (1703), the ten committed ritual suicide here. The quiet garden in the middle of Roppongi is one of the settings of the final scene of the Chushingura story.

Sources: ニッポン旅マガジン「毛利庭園（毛利甲斐守邸跡）」 (Japanese) / 東京都交通局「毛利庭園」 (Japanese)

Is “Roppongi” named after six pine trees?

According to Minato City, the name is said to come from six old pine trees, though there are several theories and nobody knows for sure.

In the Edo period there were only two small towns here, Iigura-Roppongi-cho and Ryudo-Roppongi-cho; most of the area was samurai estates and temples. It became Azabu-Roppongi-cho in 1869 and today's “Roppongi” in 1967.

Sources: 港区「地名の歴史（麻布地区）」 (Japanese)

The rooftop Sky Deck, 238 m above the ground

The indoor observation corridor is 250 m above sea level, and the rooftop Sky Deck is 270 m above sea level (238 m above ground). It is a wooden deck about 135 m around, lit after sunset to match the phases of the moon.

It closes in bad weather; check the Tokyo City View website for opening days and fees.

Sources: ニッポン旅マガジン「六本木ヒルズ展望台東京シティビュー」 (Japanese)

No more revolving doors

In 2004 a child was killed in an accident with a revolving door at Mori Tower. Company president Minoru Mori declared the policy: “We will no longer use revolving doors.”

Sources: 社史の窓「六本木ヒルズ（2003年）」 (Japanese)

The 20th Christmas market

The Christmas market in O-yane Plaza is modeled on the market in Stuttgart, Germany, said to be the largest in the world, and 2026 is its 20th year.

Keyakizaka's 400 m is lit in white and blue (“SNOW & BLUE”), and Mohri Garden in two shades of gold (lighting design by Satoshi Uchihara Lighting Design).

Sources: CHRISTMAS HILLS 2026 プレスリリース（san-tatsu） (Japanese) / 森ビル「ROPPONGI HILLS CHRISTMAS 2026」プレスリリース（san-tatsu） (Japanese)

Getting there by taxi and bus

🚌 Bus

Roppongi Hills, platform 1 (inside Mori Tower, 1F) RH01 for Shibuya Station; Han96 for Gotanda Station (via Shinagawa Station Takanawa Exit) Boarding is inside the complex
Roppongi Hills, platform 2 (Keyakizaka, 六本木けやき坂) RH01 for Shibuya Station Stop at Keyakizaka
Roppongi Hills, platform 4 (in front of EX Theater Roppongi, EXシアター六本木前) Toei Bus: To01 for Shimbashi Station (via Tameike); Shi88 for Shimbashi Station (via Kamiyacho Station) Walking time not given in the source
Roppongi Hills, platform 5 (in front of EX Theater Roppongi) Toei Bus: To01 for Shibuya Station (via Aoyama Gakuin Junior High); Shi88 for Shibuya Station (via Minami-Aoyama 5-chome) Walking time not given in the source

Other ways to get around

Chii Bus (ちぃばす, Minato Ward community bus) Minato Ward's stop guide lists a Roppongi Hills (Keyakizaka) stop and stops around Roppongi Station. Check the ward's page for routes

From Shibuya Station East Exit platform 51, RH01 runs direct to Roppongi Hills. Toei Bus charges a flat fare of 210 yen for adults and 110 yen for children. A taxi stand or drop-off point could not be confirmed in the sources. You can also book a taxi by app: GO works in English with foreign phone numbers and cards, Uber books licensed taxis in Tokyo, and since early 2026 visitors can call S.RIDE taxis through DiDi in the 23 wards and nearby.

Sources: Toei Bus platform guide: Roppongi Hills (Japanese) / Toei Bus platform guide: Shibuya Station (Japanese) / Minato Ward: Chii Bus stop map (Japanese) / GO TOKYO: Buses (Japanese) / Taxi app comparison, car-me (Japanese) / Japan Taxi Apps for Tourists (Oct 12, 2026)

Our suggested route

From Roppongi Station Exit 1C Walk straight in from the Hibiya Line via the concourse (about 3 min).
Maman in 66 Plaza Look up at the eggs under the 10 m spider (about 10 min).
Ticket counter on 3F, then up to 52F Tokyo City View: 360 degrees of Tokyo, with Tokyo Tower, Skytree and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji (about 45 min–1 hour).
Mori Art Museum, 53F Contemporary art one floor up. Note it closes at 17:00 on Tuesdays (about 1–1.5 hours).
Mohri Garden Walk around the pond and find the General Nogi birthplace monument (about 20 min).
Keyakizaka Walk down the slope beside TV Asahi; in winter, through the illuminations (about 15 min).

We found no source giving walking times. These are our estimates: allow about 3 hours for both the observatory and the museum. Tokyo City View uses timed-entry tickets, so buying a slot in advance makes planning easier.

Sources: 六本木ヒルズミュージアム・展望台「来館のご案内」 (Japanese) / LIVE JAPAN「六本木ヒルズの楽しみ方5選」 (Japanese) / ニッポン旅マガジン「六本木ヒルズ展望台東京シティビュー」 (Japanese) / GO TOKYO「森美術館」 (Japanese)

What to see by season

Spring	Cherry blossoms in Mohri Garden
Early summer	Irises, lacecap hydrangeas and water lilies in Mohri Garden
Autumn	The big ginkgo in Mohri Garden turns yellow
Around November 3 and February 8	Diamond Fuji: the sun sets behind Mt. Fuji as seen from Tokyo City View
November 5 – December 25, 2026	Keyakizaka illumination (17:00–22:00); Mohri Garden lights from November 13
November 21 – December 25, 2026	Christmas market in O-yane Plaza (11:00–21:00, the 20th edition)

Sources: 東京都交通局「毛利庭園」 (Japanese) / レッツエンジョイ東京「毛利庭園」 (Japanese) / ニッポン旅マガジン「六本木ヒルズ展望台東京シティビュー」 (Japanese) / 森ビル「ROPPONGI HILLS CHRISTMAS 2026」プレスリリース（san-tatsu） (Japanese) / CHRISTMAS HILLS 2026 プレスリリース（san-tatsu） (Japanese)

Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower or Skytree?

Tokyo City View's indoor deck is 250 m above sea level, about the same as Tokyo Tower's special observatory (about 250 m). The big plus here is that Tokyo Tower itself is part of the view.

Our take: for night shots with Tokyo Tower in them, Roppongi Hills; if you also want to see art the same day, Roppongi Hills without question. For sheer height and views over the old downtown, Skytree. Being open until 22:00, Roppongi Hills also fits neatly at the end of an evening.

Sources: ニッポン旅マガジン「六本木ヒルズ展望台東京シティビュー」 (Japanese) / 六本木ヒルズミュージアム・展望台「来館のご案内」 (Japanese)

Nearby: combine with

Azabu-Juban Azabu-Juban Station Exit 7 is a 9-minute walk. Our suggestion: walk down Keyakizaka and snack your way along the Azabu-Juban shopping streets.
The National Art Center and Tokyo Midtown Roppongi has three major art museums: Mori Art Museum, the National Art Center, Tokyo and Suntory Museum of Art (Tokyo Midtown). Two in one day works well.
Tokyo Tower and Azabudai Hills In winter there are also Christmas markets at Azabudai Hills and at the foot of Tokyo Tower, and the Hills' Christmas events are linked by a stamp rally.

Sources: 六本木ヒルズミュージアム・展望台「来館のご案内」 (Japanese) / nippon.com「森ビルに見る東京再生の試み」 (Japanese) / CHRISTMAS HILLS 2026 プレスリリース（san-tatsu） (Japanese)

Little-known highlights

Birthplace of General Nogi: Army general Nogi Maresuke was born in the samurai quarters of this residence on November 11, 1849 (Kaei 2) and spent his early childhood here. A monument stands in Mohri Garden.
Nikka Pond beneath the pond: The old “Nikka Pond” from the whisky plant days was preserved during the redevelopment by firming its bed and burying it, and it lies under today's Mohri Pond.
Space medaka: Mohri Pond is home to descendants of medaka fish born aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Maman's eggs: The roughly 10 m spider “Maman” in 66 Plaza was made in 2002 by Louise Bourgeois. It carries white marble eggs and is a symbol of motherhood.
Art in the streets: Works by more than 20 artists are installed around Roppongi Hills, some supervised by the Mori Art Museum and some on the TV Asahi grounds selected by architect Fumihiko Maki.
Transplanted giants: The big hackberry, camphor and ginkgo trees in Mohri Garden were transplanted. In autumn the large ginkgo becomes the garden's symbol.

Sources: ニッポン旅マガジン「毛利庭園（毛利甲斐守邸跡）」 (Japanese) / 東京都交通局「毛利庭園」 (Japanese) / レッツエンジョイ東京「毛利庭園」 (Japanese) / Tokyo Art Beat「ママン」 (Japanese) / LIVE JAPAN「六本木ヒルズの楽しみ方5選」 (Japanese)

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Roppongi Hills?

10:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30). Closed October 27 and November 10–12, 2026. Timed-entry tickets; walk-ins only if slots are free

How do I get to Roppongi Hills?

Hibiya Line Roppongi Station Exit 1C: 3 min via the concourse. Oedo Line Roppongi Exit 3: 6 min. Oedo Line Azabu-Juban Exit 7: 9 min. Chiyoda Line Nogizaka Exit 5: 10 min

What was here before Roppongi Hills?

What are some little-known spots in Roppongi Hills?

Birthplace of General Nogi, Nikka Pond beneath the pond, Space medaka, Maman's eggs, Art in the streets, Transplanted giants.

More Tokyo sights & gardens → · This guide in Japanese

We list events we could confirm on the official page or official Instagram of the venue or organiser. Details can change, tickets sell out and venues close, so check the official page before you go. Distances are straight-line and travel times are rough estimates. Photos show the venue or its surroundings, not the event itself. Titles and descriptions are our own translations from Japanese. This site contains affiliate links (ads).