Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Midtown Tower
Shops daily 11am-9pm; restaurants daily 11am-11pm
Completed in 2007, the Midtown Towe r was Tokyo's tallest building until the Skytree
came along. With its slightly bulbous middle, it was inspired by an Isamu Noguchi
sculpture; in keeping with the Tokyo Midtown complex's theme of traditional design,
the pattern of the tower's windows is reminiscent of a woven bamboo fence. Most
visitors are here to stay at the on-site Ritz-Carlton; despite the building's height, there's
no viewing platform.
Suntory Museum of Art
αϯτϦʔඒज़ؗ , Suntory Bijutsukan • 3F Galleria, Tokyo Midtown • Mon & Sun 10am-6pm, Wed-Sat 10am-8pm • ¥1000 •
T 03 3470 1073, W www.suntory.co.jp/sma
Landscaped gardens planted with 140 trees nestle behind and along the west side
of the complex, where you'll find the Suntory Museum of Art . This elegant Kuma
Kengo-designed building hosts changing exhibitions of ceramics, lacquerware,
paintings and textiles. There's also an on-site café serving tasty nibbles from
Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa prefecture.
21_21 Design Sight
9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku • Daily 11am-8.30pm • ¥1000 • T 03 3475 2121, W 2121designsight.jp
Two giant triangular planes of steel, concrete and glass peeking out of a green lawn
are part of the 21_21 Design Sight , a fascinating collaboration between architect
Andō Tadao and fashion designer Issey Miyake. The building's seamless shape was
inspired by Miyake's A-POC (“A Piece Of Cloth”) line, and the main gallery digs one
floor into the ground to provide an elevated, airy space in which to view the various
design exhibitions.
8
Fujifilm Square
ϑδϑΠϧϜεΫΤΞ • 1F Midtown West, Tokyo Midtown • Daily 11am-8pm • Free • W fujifilmsquare.jp
At the front of the Midtown complex, facing Gaien-Higashi-dōri, is Fujifilm Square ,
with photography exhibitions changing on a monthly basis. There's also a shop selling
fine photographic prints and a small museum of cameras and photographic equipment.
National Art Center, Tokyo
ࠃཱ৽ඒज़ؗ , Kokuritsu Shin Bijutsukan • 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku • Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm •
Entrance fee varies with exhibition • T 03 6812 9900, W www.nact.jp • Nogizaka or Roppongi stations
The stunning National Art Center, Tokyo is one of the three principal points on the
Roppongi Art Triangle formed with the Suntory Museum of Art (see above) and
Mori Art Museum (see p.96). A billowing wave of pale green glass ripples across the
facade of the Kurokawa Kisha-designed building which, at 48,000 square metres, is
Japan's largest such museum, the huge halls allowing for some very ambitious works to
be displayed. Of the twelve exhibition rooms, two are devoted to shows curated by the
museum (the centre has no collection of its own); the rest of the rooms are organized
by various art associations from across Japan, with the sum total making for a very
eclectic mix. While you are here, linger in the main atrium to admire the conical pods
that soar up three storeys, and explore the excellent museum shop.
Nogi-jinja
೫໦ਆࣾ • 8-11-27 Akasaka, Minato-ku • 24hr • Free • Flea market second Sunday of each month • Nogizaka station
The small shrine and terraced garden of Nogi-jinja honour the Meiji-era General Nogi
Maresuke , a hero in both the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars. When the
Emperor Meiji died, Nogi and his wife followed the samurai tradition and committed
suicide in his house within the shrine grounds.
TOKYO TOWER P.96 >
 
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