Written by Carey Finn
Glass Rock, the newest part of the Toranomon Hills complex in Minato Ward, has officially completed its phased opening to the public as of April 9, 2025. The edgy, light-filled building is positioned between Station Tower and Mori Tower, connecting the two via a wide pedestrian walkway. There are only a small number of shops and restaurants in Glass Rock — but here’s what to see among them.
1. Uchu Brewing
A Japanese craft-beer brand that is becoming more and more prominent, Uchu Brewing has a shop on the second floor of Glass Rock, opposite magma books. It’s the first permanent Uchu Brewing in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
You can expect a tiny bar, a couple of big fridges, and six taps up front — the choice of draughts changes daily. One of their brews is exclusive to this store; when we visited it was the smoothie-style Aurora Tiger, but this product is expected to change in May.
Uchu is known for its fruity flavor profile, as well as producing a number of beers with a relatively low wheat content. These aren’t gluten-free, but according to the bartender, they contain fairly low levels.
2. magma books
Spread across two floors, magma books is one of those bookstores that a bookworm would go in, and never leave. The books are beautiful. The place is too — all smooth wood and warm curves, with light and views and a sense of calm. Alas, there are no English books (other than a few textbooks)!
Still, magma books is worth a visit for its stationery, cards, and accessories, as well as its co-working space, if you need somewhere to drop in and do a bit of typing. For ¥1,800 an hour or ¥5,000 for the day, you can access Wi-Fi, work desks, drinks, and snacks in magmalounge. Private booths are available at an extra cost.
As part of the co-working space, you have access to the “calm” zone, a dimly lit, ridiculously Zen room with little chairs, tinkly music, and relaxing ripples on the ceiling.
Note: English support is not available for the co-working space. No membership fees are required, and you can check availability on the day — though advance reservations are also possible.
3. Tully’s Coffee, Benoit Nihant, and the Rose Gallery (all in one)
Finally, you have to make a pitstop at the Tully’s on the first floor of Glass Rock. It’s a regular Tully’s, except for two things:
- Three of the teas on the menu are only available at this store.
- It is connected to the fancy chocolatier Benoit Nihant, and also the fancy Rose Gallery.
The teas cost ¥680 a piece, and you can choose from Rose and Peach, Citrus Honey, and Rum & Orange Shalimar. At the Benoit Nihant store (which is only the second in the country, following on from the Ginza flagship), you can buy all sorts of high-end sweets, including artisanal chocolate and their famous financiers. Their chocolate financier is only available at this store.
The Rose Gallery is very much an “enjoy with the eyes” affair, in our opinion, with exquisite gold and black bouquets of roses on display, some of which retail in the range of ¥70,000.
Is it worth going out of my way to see Glass Rock?
Not really. But it is a great spot to check out if you are in the area — especially if you are looking for a place to have a quiet cup of (fancy) tea. We love the whole Toranomon Hills complex for its top-notch yet affordable dining options and relaxing atmosphere. Glass Rock is also one of Tokyo’s more interesting buildings, architecturally speaking.
About Glass Rock
Glass Rock comprises four levels above ground and three below, with a total floor area of approximately 8,800 square meters. It was designed by OMA, the global architecture firm behind the Station Tower building in Toranomon Hills.
The retailers and restaurants in Glass Rock opened in stages beween January and April 2025, with the final batch flinging open their doors on April 9.
Access
Glass Rock is easily accessed via the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, which runs right to Toranomon Hills Station.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
