In November 2023, the latest spot in Tokyo, Azabudai Hills, has finally opened. With its unique design and structure, this time, we will thoroughly introduce Azabudai Hills so that you won't get lost when you visit for the first time! Our editorial staff actually conducted an on-site visit and will guide you through recommended shopping and gourmet spots for foreign tourists, as well as tips for strolling around.
The concept of "Azabudai Hills" is "Green & Wellness"
Azabudai Hills is a "compact city" that brings together a variety of urban functions such as shops, restaurants, offices, residences, hotels, markets and other commercial facilities, cultural facilities such as galleries, international schools, preventive medical centers, etc., in an area of 81,000㎡, with 24,000㎡ of green space.
With the concept of a "Modern Urban Village" - a town like a public square that connects people, surrounded by greenery, the building complex has been redeveloping with the aim of a town where people can live safely, healthily, and abundantly while harmonizing with nature. In fact, many health-related products and menus were placed in the places we visited this time.
Azabudai Hills is also full of cultural facilities! You can enjoy not just shopping, but gourmet food and even art
Azabudai Hills is divided into several areas, including the commercial facilities "Garden Plaza" and "Tower Plaza" with 150 shops for shopping and gourmet food, the "Central Square" for greenery such as vegetable gardens and orchards, the "Residence" where housing and hotels are mainly gathered, the office facility "Mori JP Tower", and the international school "British School in Tokyo". Among them, there is Sakura Asa Street, and it is recommended to enjoy cherry blossom viewing while strolling in spring. In this way, Azabudai Hills is a city that is surrounded by greenery and harmonizes with nature, even in the city center.
Also, cultural facilities such as art galleries are abundant. Highlights include public art installations by artists such as Yoshitomo Nara centered around the Central Square, the "Azabudai Hills Gallery" equipped with museum specifications, and the popular "MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: Epson teamLab Borderless", which is relocated from Odaiba and is popular all over the world.
Here, we will introduce three carefully selected areas and facilities of Azabudai Hills.
Garden Plaza: An area where art facilities, restaurants, cafes, and luxury brands gather
The Garden Plaza of Azabudai Hills is composed of Areas A, B, C, and D. Each area has floors from B1 to 1F or 2F, and about 80 shops are scattered around, including the "Luxury Street" lined with top-class luxury brands and restaurants (scheduled to open sequentially from February 2024), a beauty zone proposing wellness for the mind and body, and high-quality, unique restaurants and cafes, as well as famous sweet shops.
Particularly noteworthy is the B1F, which features the underground passageway "Central Walk", serving as a common area connecting various zones. This area is packed with popular sweets & cafe shops, stores selling ideal souvenirs, and casual restaurants suitable for everyday use.
In addition, the Garden Plaza C houses the "Azabudai Hills Market", a collection of 34 specialty food stores dedicated to Japanese cuisine (scheduled to open in late January 2024), the Garden Plaza A features the "Azabudai Hills Gallery" where you can enjoy art works, and the Garden Plaza B is home to the "MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: Epson teamLab Borderless" (scheduled to open in February 2024).
Recommended Sweets & Cafes, Souvenirs at Azabudai Hills' "Garden Plaza"
Nakamura Tokichi Azabudai (Garden Plaza B B1F)
The Japanese tea specialty store "Nakamura Tokichi" offers popular mixtures such as "Matcha and Milk", as well as unique Japanese tea drinks and the Azabudai store's exclusive "Maruto Parfait at Home". In addition, the Matcha Chocolate "Ochanotane", which has a strong matcha flavor, a moderate sweetness, and a smooth texture, is perfect as a souvenir.
Arabica Tokyo (Garden Plaza B B1F)
"% ARABICA" is a full-fledged coffee brand that has grown to operate 164 stores in 21 countries around the world. This Garden Plaza store is their first in Tokyo. The "Kyoto Latte" with condensed milk is attractive for its rich coffee with a hint of sweetness. The entire store is a white space, sophisticated and urban.
Nihonbashi Sembikiya Main Store (Garden Plaza B B1F)
Founded in 1834, "Nihonbashi Sembikiya Main Store" is Japan's oldest fruit specialty store. All of their "Fruit Sandwiches" and "Fruit Parfaits" are made with fresh fruit, and the cream enhances the sweetness of the fruit, making them very delicious. Also, their vegan cookies in a gift package would make a great souvenir for health-conscious individuals.
shodai bio nature (Garden Plaza B B1F)
An organic, vegan, and gluten-free confectionery brand. The "Petal" series of chocolates, which look like flower petals, are photogenic and a favorite of the FUN! JAPAN editorial department. Each piece has a different flavor and gently melts in your mouth when you eat it. The shop prides itself on being able to fully enjoy the rich taste of chocolate even with its vegan petal products.
Suzukake (Garden Plaza C B1F)
The long-established Fukuoka Japanese confectionery shop "Suzukake", which has been in business for over 90 years, sells Japanese sweets made from carefully selected natural ingredients. The "Suzuno Monaka Otezume", which is shaped like a bell, is a sweet with a modestly sweet red bean paste in the Monaka skin, and is a product that is overflowing with Japanese-ness from its appearance to its taste.
CRIOLLO (Garden Plaza B B1F)
A Western confectionery shop that offers a wide variety of chocolates, cakes, and baked sweets. In addition to Western sweets with elegant and cute packaging that you'll want to give to your friends as souvenirs, they also offer soft serve ice cream. The rich milk-flavored soft serve ice cream is perfectly matched with a generous amount of fruit sauce. Don't miss the three types of cakes "Shushu" exclusive to Azabudai Hills!
Tower Plaza: An area where lifestyle, fashion, and dining shops gather
Tower Plaza refers to the commercial area located on the lower floors, from B1 to 4F, of Japan's tallest skyscraper, the "Mori JP Tower". It houses about 60 stores of various types, including shops, restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, fitness centers, and post offices.
From B1 to 4F, there are large lifestyle shops that provide "clothing, food, and housing" in total, large bookstores, flower shops, and other stores. In addition, there are select shops and specialty stores for fashion where you can experience the latest trends, as well as jewelry shops. The 3rd floor is a floor where restaurants that allow you to experience "Tokyo's food" in a wide range of genres gather.
There are many Japanese and Western-style restaurants in Azabudai Hills' "Tower Plaza"!
The sushi bar with counter seats "Sushi Azabu", the unique soba noodle shop "Soba Mae Yamato" decorated with bonsai, the popular yakiniku restaurant "YORONIKU TOKYO" where high-quality Japanese beef is grilled in front of you, the "Ochiairo Steak House Tokyo" where the interior lighting and dishes are photogenic, the "RACINES" with a rich vegan menu, and the hamburger specialty store "SHOGUN BURGER" made with Japanese beef are among the Western-style restaurants. There are also izakaya and Japanese restaurants. When looking for a main dining restaurant, it is recommended to look on the 3rd floor.
Here is an article where the FUN! JAPAN editorial department introduces 8 carefully selected shops:
"Central Square": GREEN & ART of Azabudai Hills
The Central Square is equipped with 6,000㎡ of green space. About 320 types of diverse plantings that change their expressions with each season are spread out, and there are also vegetable gardens and orchards, making the entire plaza lush and very open! It seems to be aiming for a city that harmonizes with nature while being in the city center. Four public art pieces curated by the Mori Art Museum, which were selected by world-renowned artists such as Olafur Eliasson, have been installed.
In addition, the Central Square is used as a venue for limited-time events such as the "AZABUDAI HILLS CHRISTMAS MARKET 2023" where food and beverage and retail stores open. Shopping and gourmet food are a given, and it seems fun to take selfies against the backdrop of lighting designs and decorations tailored to the event.
Thorough analysis of the labyrinth-like Azabudai Hills! Introducing tips for strolling and recommended routes
The facilities of Azabudai Hills are scattered in different buildings, with many entrances and exits in each area, making it easy to get lost. Here are some tips for exploring the area based on our personal experience.
Recommended way to navigate Azabudai Hills
- Tip ①: If the shop you want to visit is on the B1 floor of the Garden Plaza, the B1 floor of the Tower Plaza, or the 1F floor of the Residence, it is recommended to use the underground passage "Central Walk" that connects each area. Also, since both ends are directly connected to Kamiyacho Station and Roppongi 1-chome Station, aim for the "Central Walk" when you go home.
- Tip ②: If the shop on the 1F (ground floor) of the Garden Plaza is located on the outside of the building, it is easier to find it by exiting the building once and searching from the outside rather than using the escalator from inside the building.
Also, we will introduce two recommended routes and ways to get around Azabudai Hills.
Recommended routes for Azabudai Hills
- Route ①: If you are focused on shopping, visit the Tower Plaza, where various general goods and fashion shops are gathered, before heading to the Garden Plaza.
- Route ②: If you are focused on souvenirs or art, visit the 'Garden Plaza' where souvenir and gourmet shops, as well as galleries, are gathered before heading to the 'Tower Plaza'.
If you are unsure of the way, ask at the information counter located at 'Tower Plaza B1' or 'Garden Plaza A B1'. In addition, there are free Wi-Fi (Hills Wi-Fi), coin lockers, post office, baby stroller rental service, and wheelchair rental service, making it a user-friendly facility for tourists.
Access to Azabudai Hills. What is the nearest station?
If you're heading to Azabudai Hills, use the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line "Kamiyacho Station" or the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line "Roppongi-itchome Station". The No. 5 exit of "Kamiyacho Station" is directly connected to the underground passage "Central Walk", making it the closest and most convenient. If your destination is "Residence", it is about a 4-minute walk from the No. 2 exit of "Roppongi-itchome Station" via "Central Walk". Also, Azabudai Hills is close to popular tourist spots such as Tokyo Tower and Roppongi, so it's a good idea to visit after sightseeing.
Spot Information
- Name: Azabudai Hills (麻布台ヒルズ)
- Access:
- Directly connected to Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station (Exit 5)
- 4-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Namboku Line Roppongi-itchome Station (Exit 2)
- 10-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Roppongi Station (Exit 3)
- 10-minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Roppongi Station (Exit 5)
- 10-minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Azabu-Juban Station (Exit 6)
- 11-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Namboku Line Azabu-Juban Station (Exit 3)
- 11-minute walk from Toei Mita Line Onarimon Station (Exit A6)
- Business hours:
- Restaurant & Market: 11:00-23:00
- Shop: 11:00-20:00
- *Business hours may vary depending on the store. Please check each store's page for details.
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