Art Trip: Tokyo | Travel + Leisure

Art Trip: Tokyo

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Why Go Now Over the past five years, redevelopment projects have changed Roppongi, once known for its hostess bars and nightclubs. Now, with the establishment of "Art Triangle Roppongi," the district is set to become one of the city's cultural epicenters. A trio of museums, all within walking distance of one another, together span more than 12 centuries of Japanese and international art. Start with the Suntory Museum of Art (9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku; 81-3/3479-8600; suntory.com/culture-sports/sma), which has relocated its collection of Japanese treasures (from kimonos to ceramics) to the Tokyo Midtown complex. A few minutes' walk south is the Mori Art Museum (6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 81-3/5777-8600; mori.art.museum), where you'll find works by contemporary Japanese artists. The new National Art Center, Tokyo (7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 81-3/5777-8600; nact.jp), a bold structure of undulating glass walls designed by Kisho Kurokawa, is Tokyo's largest art venue. This fall, NACT presents "Vermeer and Dutch Genre Painting" (through Dec. 17). —jennifer flowers

Stay Roppongi Hills has stellar sky-scraping hotels, but the new, 248-room Ritz-Carlton (9-7-1 Akasaka; 81-3/3423-8000; ritzcarlton.com) is the standout, literally: it occupies part of the city's tallest tower, the Tokyo Midtown. Highlights include a 200-year-old teahouse in the Hinoki­zaka restaurant and a concierge whose black book has the best restaurants, shops, and entertainment in town.

Eat Modern, red-and-black-walled Fukuzushi (5-7-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 81-3/3402-4116; lunch for two $60) has the freshest sushi in Tokyo.

Don't Miss The retro-minimalist shop Souvenir from Tokyo, in the National Art Center, Tokyo, is pure eye candy. Stock up on fine Japanese stationery, manga comics, and wooden kokeshi dolls.

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