Japanese Tea Archives | Tokyo Cheapo

Azabudai Hills is the biggest attraction in Tokyo right now -- with good reason. The brand-new complex in Minato Ward officially opened on Friday, 24 November, after nearly 35 years of development. Designed as a modern urban village, it's home to the tallest building in Japan, art galleries -- including teamLab Borderless, cafés and fine-dining options, luxury shops, markets, and more. Read on for more details about the complex -- and a rundown of the top things to do at Azabudai Hills. What is Azabudai Hills? Azabudai Hills is a mixed-use complex near Kamiyacho Station, in Tokyo's Minato Ward. The largest redevelopment project ever to be undertaken by Mori Building, Azabudai Hills sits on approximately 8.1 ha of land, with an estimated total floorspace of 861,700 m2. The complex comprises several buildings, including the tallest building in Japan -- the Mori JP Tower. Designed to encapsulate the concept of a modern urban village, with a strong emphasis on "green and wellness", Azabudai Hills makes for a fun day out. The complex features numerous cafés and restaurants -- many of which have vegan and gluten-free options, as well as art installations, markets, and high-end shopping. You'll also find the luxury hotel Janu Tokyo (opening February, 2024), medical clinics, fitness clubs, offices, and residences by Aman. Azabudai Hills is also the new home of teamLab Borderless -- relocated from its previous location in Odaiba. Other noteworthy facilities include the Tokyo Venture Capital Club, and the British School in Tokyo. A diverse team of architects were involved in the Azabudai Hills project, including skyscraper experts Pelli Clarke & Partners (USA), Heatherwick Studio (UK), Sou Fujimoto and Ryu Kosaka (Japan), and Yabu Pushelberg (Canada, USA), among others. Azabudai Hills is the latest Hills complex to open in Tokyo, as part of the Mori brand. Others include Ark Hills, Toranomon Hills, and Roppongi Hills, all of which are nearby, as well as Omotesando Hills. 1. teamLab Borderless Everyone's favorite digital art museum is back. After a temporary closure and a big move, teamLab Borderless is re-opening in Azabudai Hills. The full details have yet to be disclosed, but you can expect marvellous tricks of light and mirrors in a Bubble Universe, a new twist on the Megalith Crystal Formation, and other interactive exhibits. The new teamLab is scheduled to open on February 9, 2024. Tickets are already available. 2. Azabudai Hills Gallery There's no need to wait for this one -- the Azabudai Hills Gallery opens on 24 November. The inaugural exhibition will showcase works by the Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. Running until the end of March, 2024, A harmonious cycle of interconnected nows features geometric sculptures, cracking lines of light and water, and other installations. 8ablish Café Connected to the Azabudai Hills Gallery, you'll find the trendy vegan café 8ablish, which serves up organic mains, desserts and coffees. There are different menus for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. 3. The Manga gallery Fans of Japanese manga will want to pop into the Manga Art Heritage Gallery, which is run by the Shueisha publishing company. You can expect to see artwork from popular titles like ONE PIECE, Bleach, The Rose of Versailles and others. It's a small but ultra-modern gallery, well worth a peek. 4. World-class restaurants One of the biggest selling points of Azabudai Hills is its restaurants -- this is where you'll find some of the best food in Tokyo. Your options include everything from Michelin-star dining (Florilege) to premium wagyu beef (Kagurazaka Teppanyaki Nakamura), sushi, tempura, kaiseki, tonkatsu, Thai (including the Michelin-starred Saawaan) and more. Azabudai Hills will host the widely acclaimed patissier Issei Narita, but you'll also find an array of other bakeries and sweet shops -- including all-vegan options. Look out for fruit parlor Nihombashi Sembikiya Sohonten for fresh cream and fruit sandwiches, and don't miss Arabica Tokyo. The sleek white coffee shop roasts its own beans and brews them using a fancy-pants Slayer espresso machine. For more restaurant tips, see our full guide on where to eat in Azabudai Hills. 5. High-end shopping Azabudai Hills is probably the best spot to shop in Tokyo, with luxury brands like Bottega Veneta, Cartier, Hermès and many more among its store listings. Some of them will only be opening from February, 2024, onwards, but there are more than enough opening in November to keep you busy. Spread among Garden Plaza, the Mori JP Tower and the two residential towers, you'll find a huge variety of shops, stocking everything from books to on-tap honey, Kyoto tea, kitchenware, fragrances, bedding, cosmetics, watches and fashion. 6. Azabudai Hills Market Intended to be one of the best Tokyo food markets, the Azabudai Hills Market opened on March 13, 2024 -- a bit later than the rest of the complex. Across 4000 m2 of floorspace, the underground market brings together more than 30 food specialty stores. On offer is fresh fish, meat and veggies, boutique wines and liquors, sweets and pastries, flowers, and other seasonal finds. Included in the line-up is the Yamayuki Fish Market, a leading wholesaler from Toyosu Fish Market. Other buzzing names are Hiyama, a Tokyo butcher dating back to 1912, The Rice Shop Sumidaya -- also in the game for more than 100 years, and Dashi Okume -- another import from Toyosu, that started its business in 1871. We'll be honest though: we sent a writer to check out the market after it opened, and they came back describing it as "a glorified supermarket". So perhaps leave it for after Borderless, Sky Lobby, and the other more exciting attractions. Don't miss this: There is also a Christmas Market at Azabudai Hills. 7. Public art To walk off all of the deliciousness, you can try to find the public art installations in and around Azabudai Hills. There are three sculptures on the Central Green, one in the Mori JP Tower, and -- as an unofficial extra -- there is also a colorful tiled wall along Onemichi Street, which runs around the skyscraper. Two big names in the public art game include Yoshitomo Nara and Olafur Eliasson. 8. Healthcare Azabudai Hills is all about wellness -- particularly that of its residents -- so it has set up a general clinic, dentist, pharmacy, acupucturist and, the cherry on top, the ultra-modern Keio University Center for Preventative Medicine. This center is where you can book a full-body check-up, or "ningen dock", among other things. Residents of Japan should be able to access the center's services, though they are not typically covered by national health insurance. The center may require an interpreter, and charge additional fees, if you are not able to speak Japanese. Read more about the Japanese healthcare system. 9. Azabudai Hills Sky Lobby Important update: From April 18, 2024, entrance to the Azabudai Hills Sky Lobby will be restricted to office tenants and those visiting Hills House, Dining 33, Sky Room Cafe & Bar, and the patisserie. Azabudai Hills is also home to one of the best free observation decks in Tokyo. Follow the signs for the Sky Lobby in the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, and be whisked up to the 33rd floor -- where a stunning view of Tokyo, including the famous Tokyo Tower, awaits you. The observation area is open until 9 p.m., so you can watch the lights of Tokyo slowly twinkle on. How to get to Azabudai Hills The northwest corner of the Azabudai Hills complex is connected directly to Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. You can take a lift to the entrance of Garden Plaza. Roppongi-Itchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line is a 7-10-minute walk away. It’s also a fairly easy walk from Roppongi Station, taking about 12-15 minutes. The Azabudai Hills complex is extensive, though, so allow a good 10-15 minutes to get between Garden Plaza, the Mori JP Tower, and other sections. Things to do near Azabudai Hills Tokyo Tower is a 10-minute walk from Azabudai Hills, making it an easy extra while you're in the area. You could also poke around Roppongi, or see what there is to do in Toranomon. Tokyo Azabudai Hills FAQs Answers to some of the most common questions about Azabudai Hills. Is Azabudai Hills open? Yes. The Azabudai Hills complex opened on 24 November, 2023. However, several sections -- including teamLab Borderless -- will only open in early 2024. How tall is Azabudai Hills? The Mori JP Tower, which is the main building in Azabudai Hills, is 325.2 m tall, making it the tallest building in Japan. It is 64 storeys high. Is there an observation deck at Azabudai Hills? The Sky Lobby on the 33rd floor of the Mori JP Tower is Azabudai Hills' answer to an observation deck. It is free to access, just take the elevator to the 33rd floor, then enjoy the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. You can also walk up the Grand Staircase to the 34th floor, where there is a small café. If you have time, you can relax and take in the view across Tokyo -- including Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge -- from Dining 33, on the 33rd floor of Hills House in the Mori JP Tower. Dining 33 is a French fine-dining restaurant. Reservations are recommended. While we do our best to ensure it's correct, information is subject to change.

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