Roppongi’s Art Triangle makes it a popular destination for lovers of art and beautiful things. I am one of those people.

After our afternoon visit to Tokyo Midtown, I knew that Roppongi Hills would not disappoint.

Roppongi Hills

Arriving at Roppongi Hills, it was already about 4.30pm. We walked past Louise Bourgeois’s giant spider sculpture, Maman, and an equally giant Christmas tree to find our way to Mori Tower. There were plenty of signage around the complex, so there’s no need to worry about getting lost. Roppongi Hills, Roppongi, Tokyo, JapanRoppongi Hills, Roppongi, Tokyo, JapanRoppongi Hills, Roppongi, Tokyo, JapanRoppongi Hills, Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo City View at Mori Tower

We bought our tickets for the art exhibition & observatory tower from a ticket vendor near Shinjuku Station. It was a chance encounter as we were looking to change money at the same vendor and saw that they were also selling tickets to various things for slightly cheaper. So, do consider that option and plan/buy ahead of your visit. Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Once you’ve gotten your tickets, you’d need to take the lift to go all the way up to the 52nd floor for the observatory deck. Yup, this is where you get to see the view of Tokyo skylines in all its glory. And seriously, Mori Tower gives you a stunning view of Tokyo with Tokyo Tower right at the center. I mean, just look at these photos… Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan We were there right at that perfect time when the sun was about to set. Yep, the orangey red hue added to the magic of this already picturesque view. Now, my hubby and I are known to be the type of people who like to chill. So when we got a prime spot (i.e. one of the very few seating areas), we decided we would stay there for a while and watch the sunset. I tried taking photos every 10 minutes or so, to capture the changing colours… Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Tower from Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan One word to describe it: magical! We couldn’t even believe how much time we spent just watching the Tokyo skyline, but it was worth it. It was December and right in the middle of the observatory deck, there was a large Christmas tree lit up with many-a-colours. Mori Tower at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan We walked to a different area of the observation deck with a small lounge and cafe. From there, we saw Mount Fuji. Almost. We could see the silhouette of the tip of Mount Fuji… Okay, so even the moon appeared clearer than Mount Fuji, but I tried. Mori Tower at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Mori Tower at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan

Roppongi Crossing Art Exhibition at Mori Art Museum

We then walked to the Mori Art Museum to begin our journey into Roppongi Crossing… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zJW3G4wHc

Held triennially since 2004, “Roppongi Crossing” is an exhibition series that offers a comprehensive survey of the Japanese art scene. The 4th in the series, “Roppongi Crossing 2013” will inquire into the “current state” of Japanese contemporary art, referencing history and global perspectives and reflecting the social awareness that has clearly been heightened since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the triple disaster. Source: Mori Art Museum Website

Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan The first artwork that greeted us was also one of my favourites. Artist Fumiko Kobayashi’s “1000 Legs, Cultivating Fruits” is a floor to ceiling wall made of colourful everyday items. From clothes to chairs, each piece was collected from nearby neighbourhoods. I read somewhere that this piece is to portray the “layering of human existence” as the chairs and clothes have all been worn. I loved it. Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Similarly, Masato Takasaka’s piece showed us that we could find identity or culture in readymade objects around us. (Fun fact: Masato is a Melbournian!) Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan We then continued our walk around the exhibition… Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan We stopped and pondered. And listened to the free English audio guide. Everything was made very easy to process, and of course, visually enticing at every corner. Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan The vibrance of colours from the multi medium artworks displayed at Roppongi Crossing were thrilling and exciting. Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, JapanRoppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, JapanRoppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan And of course, a whole lot of quirk – as you would expect from Japanese artists. Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, JapanRoppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan At every turn, we would find something intriguing or contemplative for us to think about… Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Another artwork that truly captivated my attention and my very being was the “Go for Future Ship” project by Ichiro Endo. Here’s what he had to say about the project:

My hope is to connect the world. I have nomadically traveled across the country … on which the words ‘go for future’ and the dreams of the people I met are written. I carry all the dreams on the car and head to various places, where people who live there write their dreams. Through sending the message ‘for the future’ to the people all over the world who live in the present, we will connect the world by a circle of the dreams and the bound. Through this project, we would like to send the message that … ‘it is important to head for the future by living the present with dreams and hopes.’ Source: Tokyo Wonder Site

Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan We got into the action of adding our own touch to this collaborative artwork, by writing our hope for the future on a piece of cloth provided. We then tied them up on the model ship. If you were there, what would your hope for the future be? (: Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan I hope that one day I would be able to impact people with my creative art form too. To make them think, to make them wonder, to make them create. I believe that’s what art is all about. To inspire others. Just like this last artwork at the Roppongi Crossing 2013 exhibition – a tribute to the Fukushima tsunami tragedy. Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan There was a little shop that marked the end of our journey. I didn’t want to leave… Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan I would recommend visiting the Mori Art Museum for anyone who loves art (yes, it probably won’t be the Roppongi Crossing when you visit, but it’ll still be awesome I reckon!)… Roppongi Crossing: Out Of Doubt - Mori Art Museum at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan From the beauty of Tokyo city to the unique Japanese contemporary art… Roppongi’s Mori Art Museum truly delivered. The exhibitions will continue to change, however the view of Tokyo Tower during sunset will always leave you breathless. Plus, the ever-changing artworks also means that we can always go back and experience something totally different. I can’t wait! Are you a museum-goer? What type of museums attract you the most when in a foreign country? Why?