Roppongi

Located in the South-West of the Edo Castle and away from the major roads, the Roppongi area was a region of peaceful, open countryside before 1600.

After the Edo period, Roppongi developed as a residential area for feudal lords (Daimyo), and many shrines and temples were built because of its terrain, with numerous high plateaus that offer good views of the town.

After the Meiji period (1868～1912), large houses for nobles and businesspeople were built, especially in the Toriizaka area.

Roppongi became an army town, as the Japanese infantry regiments stationed in Roppongi

During the Meiji Era, the Japanese infantry regiments stationed here, thus Roppongi became an army town. At that time, Roppongi was not the city’s center, and there was ample space available.

The end of WWII (1945) greatly changed Roppongi

The US Army stationed here after the Japanese Army acquired the land there and built a residential complex called Bardy Barrack. Along with the increase in American army personnel, many restaurants and bars opened to cater to them.

After 1952, when the US-Japan Peace Treaty was signed, Japan gradually emerged from the chaos of the postwar period, and the number of Japanese citizens in Roppongi began to increase.

In 1959, US Army facilities were returned to the Japanese Defense Agency, and a major TV network opened in Roppongi, and then, the Tokyo Olympic Games

Roppongi became a popular spot for young people and frequently appeared on TV.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games completely transformed the city. The Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line opened, making transportation to Ginza more convenient. More young people gathered here, leading to the rise of bars, discos, entertainment spots, and international businesses.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Mori Building Co. led a large-scale redevelopment, transforming the area into Roppongi Hills

A modern business and luxury district that opened in 2003, followed by Tokyo Midtown and the National Art Center, which together form the Art Triangle in Roppongi.