National Azabu Supermarket, Roppongi

My plans for my US trip earlier this month included a lot of shopping. With two suitcases plus two carry-on bags, I had a lot of space to carry snacks and cravings back. But I had heard a lot about National Azabu, a supermarket near Roppongi which carries lots of imported foods and ingredients.

 The store is quite large and convenient to Hiroo Station on the Hibiya line. On the right is a premium popcorn stand.

 The main entrance is around the corner - just left of the photo above. Obviously, there's a Baskin Robbins as well as a couple other food options.

 Inside, it's a supermarket, just like any other. There are plenty of organic options for those who sway that way.

 The spice section offers a lot of options I don't usually see in Japan, including a broad selection of non-American, non-Asian ethnic foods (Mexican, for example).

 The cheese selection is outstanding, too.

 Seriously, I don't recall seeing this many cheeses at any supermarket in the US.

 When it comes to snacks, you won't be able to get much of a craving satisfied. There are the basics, and I saw a lot of brands I didn't recognize. Are they specialty brands or non-US imports? I didn't see any Twix, Pop-Tarts, or Fritos.

 I want to stress that when it comes to cooking meals, you can find a good selection of staples to go along with those spices. This is an import store, though, and prices will be higher than the US.

One last shot to show the baking goods. I believe everything you need to make a pumpkin pie is here. I've heard of friends making cheesecakes, and I saw a good selection of fresh breads, imported beer and wine, and meat.

National Azabu is a good choice for those looking for ingredients and foods that aren't part of Japanese diets. But I still haven't found a reliable source of candy and snacks. Upstairs is a selection of household goods - toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc, cookware, and English-language books.

The map above will help you get there - from Hiroo Station on the Hibiya subway line, take exit 1, turn left at the intersection, and follow the road to the market.

More Roppongi: National Art Center and Tokyo Midtown

I don't go to Roppongi much, but when I do I try to find something new each time.

 North of Roppongi Station, the National Art Center is the largest art museum in Japan. As you can see, the building itself is massive.There is a spacious lobby with large windows that feels open.

 Multiple floors have several large galleries each, and each gallery can hold headlining special exhibitions. I went twice in the period of a month, first viewing an exhibition of photography by Andreas Gursky, whose photography is similar to the kinds of "artsy" pictures I sometimes take. I should note that I didn't know who he was and I hadn't seen his work before going to the exhibition but was lucky enough to receive some free tickets. The other exhibition was a collection of American pop art, including several Warhol originals. I really enjoy modern/contemporary art and pop art is no different.

 Exhibitions here can be hit or miss based on your taste, because I don't see any current or future exhibitions that interest me. From the building, it's just a short walk to Tokyo Midtown.

 The final approach from the art museum follows a nice narrow park with a couple wide paths and some water features.

 The path is tree-lined and quite popular, despite the pictures.

 I'm sure kids love playing in the water when it's hot outside.

 Closer to Midtown, there is a portion of the stream where people can soak their feet. I think you have to pay for the privilege, though I think it is hot spring fed.

 The closer you get to the Midtown complex, the more interesting the green space becomes, as you start seeing some sculptures.

 A large open area had a bunch of exciting activities last fall. They had admission costs, of course.

 There was a rappelling tower. And I think a rock climbing wall.

 They also had a zip line! I'd be interested in them if they were longer, higher, and more exciting.

 There's also a nice park similar to parks in San Francisco with a small path and grass that's great for sitting and chatting.

 One side of the park has a few kids structures.

 Look for the lonely statue in a corner.

 A pleasant surprise, especially in the summer heat.

 Tucked on the side of Midtown Garden is a free Japanese garden, called Hinochiko Park.

 There's a nice small lake and pavilion area.

 The view out over the lake is much nicer, of course.

 Cat tails grow on the water's edge.

 A small path leads around the lake, offering many unique views.

 Most Japanese gardens have lakes, but they're very open. This one almost has a forest feel, as you sometimes lose sight of the lake despite not getting very far from it.

 Another unique view from the bridge over the waterfall. It's a nice escape from the city.

What about Tokyo Midtown itself? Well, there's nothing special that I can show you. Midtown Tower is the tallest building in Tokyo, with a Ritz-Carlton hotel on the top floors and some restaurants and shops at the top and bottom. Galleria is your standard indoor mall, with a very luxurious feel and luxurious stores inside. And the Suntory Museum of Art has a few exhibitions every year.

 While in Roppongi, in the Hibiya Line station, I noticed something I've seen a few times: a door. Well, of course there are millions of doors in Japan, but this one is special.

 It is next to an open walkway. I see these fairly often in stations and stores, and while they are never used during normal traffic flow, in an emergency such as a fire or earthquake I'm guessing a fireproof door closes over the main walkway, and the other door becomes the emergency exit.

Finally, I'll share with you this strange creature. It's quite large, certainly bigger than the spoon portion of a tablespoon. It's a moth of some kind, and it was quite bold to be wandering around on the street in broad daylight. My guess is it was about to die for whatever reason.

The oddity fan in me wanted to keep it and do something with it - mount it for display, perhaps? But I'm no bug collector and I have enough junk as it is.

Tokyo Midtown is located just north of Roppongi Station - the Oedo Line gives easy access, while it takes about five minutes to get there from the Hibiya Line station at Roppongi Crossing. The National Art Center is about 10-15 minutes from the stations and Tokyo Midtown. The art museums are open from 10 AM to 6 PM, and the mall stores are usually open 11 AM to 9 PM, restaurants usually 11 AM to midnight. Of course, Roppongi is a major nightlife district, and Tokyo Midtown is just north of it, where you'll find tons of restaurants and clubs open all night.

An Introduction to Roppongi

After being essentially leveled during World War II, the Roppongi neighborhood became home to US and Allied officials, and several foreign embassies were established here as well (the first was established about 100 years ago, but many arrived after the war). This is probably why you want to visit Roppongi now - it has a lot of nightlife, a trend re-established in the 1960s. (Roppongi was home to part of the Japanese army around 1890, and this led to several nightlife establishments opening over 100 years ago. It seems this is purely coincidental, although the choice of location for the US and Allied homes may have been based on the prior existence of Japanese military housing in the area.)

From the late '60s through the '80s, Roppongi had a lot of discos attracting foreign dignitaries and businessmen working in the area. The bubble burst of 1989 closed a lot of these places, but recent new development has led to a renaissance in the area. Today, there are lots of options, with restaurants, clubs, bars, strip clubs, cabarets, hostess clubs, and other forms of entertainment.

The area is the core of ex-pat nightlife. A secondary scene has developed in Ikebukuro and there are foreigner-owned or -based locations throughout Tokyo and Japan, but Roppongi is the center. However, this isn't all good. There have been issues with drink spiking or drink lacing, usually to minimize consumption and increase profits at all-you-can-drink bars.

 Walking from Tokyo Tower toward Roppongi Crossing, there are a few things to note. First, near Tokyo Tower is this green building with some interesting architecture. Those are plants growing on the walls.

 Much closer to Roppongi Crossing you'll find Don Quixote. This store is like K-Mart, if it was run by 20-year-olds. Inside you'll find imported goods, cosmetics, food, costumes, and toys. And more. In a couple weeks, I'll give you a good look at one of these stores. But the Roppongi Don Quixote is important for one reason. Look at the roof.

 That's a roller coaster sitting on top! It was built years ago but has never ran, because neighboring businesses complained that it would be too loud. Don Quixote is located in the heart of the nightlife district, so I'm not sure how valid a claim they have, but the coaster remains unused.

Also found among the bars and clubs are some foreign restaurants, including a Cinnabon, Tony Roma's, and a few other US chains including one of two Wendy's restaurants in Japan (the other is in Shinjuku).

The orange tree above is on one of the embassy's properties and hangs onto the street; I think it's the Russian embassy but I'm not certain.

Also found in Roppongi are new major developments. Roppongi Hills, opened in 2003, is a city in a city, including an observation deck with great views of the city and an art museum in Mori Tower. Tokyo Midtown also is a city in a city with its own art museum, and a Ritz Carlton on the top floors. There are some other museums in the area as well, Akasaka Sacas is a little further out and the area's newest city in a city, with great dining but fewer attractions.

If you're looking for foreign-friendly nightlife options, Roppongi is the place to go, and it's probably where you'll see the most expats in Tokyo (instead of just foreign tourists). That said, the area doesn't have a big repeat draw for me since I'm not much for club hopping, although Mori Tower's art museum frequently has good exhibits and sometimes a Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich really hits the spot.