Talk:Tokyo/Roppongi

Opiniated

This article's a bit opinionated, especially with the use of the words "desperate." I've been to Gas Panic several times, and would hardly qualify myself as such.

This is not Wikipedia, we're allowed to be opinionated. Incidentally, nobody living in Tokyo ever admits to going to Gas Panic, yet they all do =) (WT-en) Jpatokal 21:13, 24 May 2005 (EDT)

Well Gaspanic is admittable if your below 25. But nobody EVER admits going to Motown. And of course I have never met a couple who would admit having met in Roppongi whatsoever.

Atelier de Joel Robuchon

"Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Roppongi Hills Hillside 2F, 6-10-1 Roppongi, tel. 03-5772-7500, [8] (http://www.robuchon.com/). The first overseas venture of the eponymous Paris-based Michelin-starred chef. Each dish is a work of art almost as breathtaking as the price tag, at ¥1000-4000 per dish."

Is this price a typo? It seems a little cheap for the 'expensive' section? (WT-en) Thewayoftheduck 05:58, 5 Feb 2006 (EST)

Why so? ¥4000 per dish is a leedle expensive even by Tokyo standards... (WT-en) Jpatokal 08:31, 5 Feb 2006 (EST)

Heh. Just couldn't get my mind around Michelin and $40 tops. Just googled it (should have done that first. sorry!) and the course menus range from 2900yen to 12800yen, but there are indeed (presumably small) dishes for 1000yen. Ignore the above :) (WT-en) Thewayoftheduck 23:11, 6 Feb 2006 (EST)

This is more important that the prices of individual appetizers (especially as I've once gotten a starter in a fancy Japanese restaurant that consisted of three (3) beans), so I've added in the course pricing. (WT-en) Jpatokal 23:42, 6 Feb 2006 (EST)

avoid the roppongi crossing "main street"

One piece of advice that this article lacks is that all the "hustlers" congregate on the main street near roppongi crossing. Real places that japanese people go to are beyond the main street. Never believe someone that approaches you in the street for a proposition - especially here! If possible, take some adventuresome Japanese people with you, that could help have a good time.

I tried to delete the reference to the "Almond" but they put it back. The Almond closed some time ago, so don't arrange to meet people there!

Almond is open again. Syced (talk) 04:44, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

Exchange rate of the century

500 Yen for 100 USD.

We have a saying in Finnish: you're not a fool if you sell, but you're a fool if you buy. (WT-en) Jpatokal 09:55, 15 June 2007 (EDT)

Unclear description.

In understand section: "nightlife has been striving since the 19th century" - what does this mean? • • • Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 07:18, 13 May 2013 (UTC)

Thriving? I thought Roppongi was already a hotbed of nightlife earlier than the 19th century, but perhaps I'm incorrect about that. Ikan Kekek (talk) 07:21, 13 May 2013 (UTC)

Cheers to those working on this article

Hi folks. Just wanted to say looks like a pretty well-balance picture of Roppongi you've created here. Mostly accurate from what I can see. Been living in Tokyo from 6 years and have had many client meetings in Roppongi. I might reiterate that it seems plausible to highlight (perhaps a little more) some of the more attractive aspects of Roppongi, while giving a stern reminder of the pitfalls (mainly, getting ripped off in a strip joint, seems to be conveyed at this point.) —The preceding comment was added by Goodmoto (talk • contribs)

Map pitfalls ?

I just looked at the map, and I'm troubled by the fact that only a couple of street names are shown without zooming in, and even more troubled by the fact that there are still lots of unnamed streets at the highest level of zoom when I'm looking at the map in a full-screen view. Can something be done about this? Ikan Kekek (talk) 04:28, 21 October 2013 (UTC)

@Ikan Kekek: I see your question just now. - You can only do one thing: convince the Japanese that these streets should have names. Street names are seldom used in postal addresses (except in Kyoto and some Hokkaidō cities such as Sapporo), and most Japanese streets do not have names. The addresses consist of the number or name of city blocks and the number of the cadastral parcel or a section number of the block (see [1]). - Joachim Mey2008 (talk) 10:28, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

Yeah, I know Tokyo addresses, for instance, are very difficult to understand. As I recall, the oldest building on a street (or block?) was #1, the second oldest was #2, etc. During my first trip to Tokyo in 1975, neither taxi drivers nor policemen were able to tell us where the Isseido Bookstore was, and we just lucked out in randomly running into the only other people my parents knew in Tokyo, who directed us to the store, which was right near where we got out of a cab. Ikan Kekek (talk) 11:53, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

Yes, I seriously doubt any of those smaller streets have names at all. There's no problem with the map. Texugo (talk) 17:45, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

While most streets have no name, the map is missing some existing names. I added a few ones to OpenStreetMaps. The street names are not even on Google Maps. Syced (talk) 05:09, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

Pub crawl

I deleted the pub crawl listing on the basis that people don't need to take tours to go to pubs, but I think perhaps this is the unusual pub crawl that actually does deserve a listing based on value added. Here's what User:Goodmoto said in his/her recent edit summary:

"Clearly fulfills tour requirements as a value-added activity per description regarding discounts and free shots for participants."

I've invited Goodmoto to post an argument here, but under the circumstances, I'm quite inclined to revert my own reversion of his post and let the pub crawl listing stand.

What say you all? Ikan Kekek (talk) 07:37, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

Never been to any, but doesn't every pub crawl everywhere offer discounts? I'm against listing pub crawls since a traveller can fulfil the substance of the tour (getting drunk and meeting people) on their own. Jjtkk (talk) 15:38, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

I haven't, either. Do they all offer discounts and free shots? You're right that you can fulfill the substance of this on your own, and if that's the sole guiding standard, it can't be listed. Ikan Kekek (talk) 17:46, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

I typed pub crawl in google and checked several links to events organised in Prague, Sao Paulo, Boracay, Dublin and Minneapolis. They all offered unlimited beer, amazing free drinks, super special cocktails, free T-shirts and what have you. Jjtkk (talk) 19:06, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

The thing this pub crawl offers are free shots, one at every venue it goes too. Also the walk between the bars pub crawl also gives away shots to help people who want to get a extra in their system. 4 bars 4 shots. 3 bars changes 3 more shots 7 total. Roppongi drink prices standard ranges from 800-1500Yen. Pub crawl members get drinks from 300 to 500Yen(Max). Free entry to a night club. One of the reason I believe it should be listed is I believe pub crawl is doing a service to the bars in the area and the attendees. Tokyo Pub Crawls focuses on developing that particular area of roppongi and helping the business get more regular customers. TPC is conciously trying to change the reputation of roppongi as "sketchy" and "dangerous" to safe and reputable. The event and activities are geared solely toward creating the best social interaction environment possible. Not only with free drinks, but games, mixers, and activities focused on getting to know one another. Tokyo Pub Crawl is a staple of Roppongi nightlife and should be listed as event that currently ongoing. The Bar Sponsor of the pub crawls allows memmbers who visit the bar at a non event time will still be able to receive discounts just by saying the Pub Crawl name. For regular roppongi customers buying 3 drinks in any bar would fulfill the cost of the Tokyo Pub Crawl.—The preceding comment was added by Andrewnguyend (talk • contribs)

Thanks for inviting me to this talk page. I'm not sure about other instance on WikiVoyage, but reading the description and thinking about the actual purpose and benefit to the end users of Wikivoyage (vs. the benefit to the vendor), it seemed to me this would be a valid listing. My rationale is as follows: First, there may be other pub crawls with similar offerings, but nonetheless these constitute "value-added" benefits, i.e. discounts or free drinks or whatever it is that you couldn't otherwise obtain. Second, as someone who has attended pub crawls before, I would argue that there is definitely value in such an event in that you know exactly where to meet, you don't have to figure out which bars are hot and which one are not, and most importantly there's a lot other like-minded people (traveling alone, have no idea where to go, don't know anybody) waiting for you. Goodmoto (talk) 08:04, 8 April 2014 (UTC)

My opinion is that pub crawls are like tour operators: They find spots, negotiate deals with owners, sell the result as a package that costs less than the sum of its separately-bought parts, and customers are often put in groups which is an opportunity for socialization. Our policy is to NOT list tour operators. You wrote that pub crawl operators know "*which bars are hot*" ... well Wikivoyage's goal is already to maintain that kind of information, so no need to list pub crawls. Syced (talk) 05:21, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

Cinem@rt-

I remove this listing as the building is currently being torn down, not sure if it is temporary or definitive:

• 1 Cinem@rt- (シネマート), Roppongi 3-8-15, ☏ +81 3 5413-7711, info-cinemart@spoinc.jp. 11:00–19:00 daily. Don't settle for Hollywood style, with this small 4-screens theater that shows independent Japanese and Asian movies. ¥1800. 

Syced (talk) 03:52, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

The website indicates that it closed mid-June, with no comment about a re-opening. – Fabimaru (talk) 21:17, 16 October 2015 (UTC)