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Apple Relocating Tokyo HQ to Roppongi Hills

Internaut said:
Perhaps a high level of crime for the Japanese but very safe for anyone used to living in western cities. The Nigerian muscle at the doors to some bars made me laugh when I was last there (some ten years back).
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The Nigerian "muscle" aren't just bouncers. They are touts, pimps, drug dealers and shake down artists all wrapped into one.

But you are correct, Roppongi is generally safe compared to most places in the world. Two basic rules to avoid 99% of all problems:

1) Never go with a Nigerian to an establishment located in the second floor (or above) of a building. Safest bet is to just never go with a tout anywhere.

2) Never go to a second establishment suggested by a person (woman) that you just met that isn't Japanese. Particularly if they REALLY like you and they are (objectively) out of your league.

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kasei said:
Roppongi Hills is very nice, but I agree with your assessment of the rest of Roppongi. When ever I go back to visit I try to avoid Roppongi unless I am having dinner at the Oak Door.
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The first choice piece of cow that place serves will be the first.

The bar, OTOH, can be the bees.
 
Moopy Sac said:
The Nigerian "muscle" aren't just bouncers. They are touts, pimps, drug dealers and shake down artists all wrapped into one.

But you are correct, Roppongi is generally safe compared to most places in the world. Two basic rules to avoid 99% of all problems:

1) Never go with a Nigerian to an establishment located in the second floor (or above) of a building. Safest bet is to just never go with a tout anywhere.

2) Never go to a second establishment suggested by a person (woman) that you just met that isn't Japanese. Particularly if they REALLY like you and they are (objectively) out of your league.

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The first choice piece of cow that place serves will be the first.

The bar, OTOH, can be the bees.
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I agree 100% about Ropppongi and the Nigerians...but anyone with street smarts should know to avoid them. But to be clear, it isn't just Nigereans, there are a number of people, even Japanese you need to be careful about in Roppongi; many Nigereans or people you may assume to be are normal everyday people. However for those that do not know, Roppongi Hills and Azabu-Juban are not the same as the big night life area of Roppongi. They are close by, but not the same atmosphere or "issues".
 
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prvt.donut said:
Albright, I have a partner in Roppongi Hills and it is actually a great office to work in, the layout is great from that perspective, also, the seemingly hapharzard design of the shopping area is great because it lets you walk and get lost in the maze of different layers and angles. Quite rare in such a modern city.
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Granted, we just explored the shopping area, so perhaps the actual office towers are much more interesting - I wouldn't know. I don't think I'd want to work there, though, since you'd be in for quite a walk if you wanted to go somewhere affordable for lunch, I think…

At any rate, I think it's odd to see Roppongi referred to as "the trendy area" of Tokyo. There's maybe half a dozen places that could be called "trendy areas" of Tokyo; Harajuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ginza, Shinjuku… (Maybe I could name more if I were at all trendy myself.)
 
Albright said:
Granted, we just explored the shopping area, so perhaps the actual office towers are much more interesting - I wouldn't know. I don't think I'd want to work there, though, since you'd be in for quite a walk if you wanted to go somewhere affordable for lunch, I think…

At any rate, I think it's odd to see Roppongi referred to as "the trendy area" of Tokyo. There's maybe half a dozen places that could be called "trendy areas" of Tokyo; Harajuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ginza, Shinjuku… (Maybe I could name more if I were at all trendy myself.)
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Roppongi and Roppongi hills are not the same, right? They are very different areas with very different vibes.

Depends on your definition of trendy, Harajuku is on one end of the extreme, no? Ginza isn't trendy, it is high end shopping like New Yorks 5th Avenue. Shinjuku I wouldn't call trendy, I would call it night life for the young. Akihabara? Far from trendy unless you mean teh AKB 48 Cafe? Sure, shopping for electronics or monga maybe, but trendy, corporate trendy, nah?

For corporate, Roppongi Hills is ideal and not an uncommon place to find a lot of big name companies HQ there; so it doesn't surprise me.
 
I could understand if they open an Apple Store in Roppongi or Omotesando and relocate the store in Shibuya away from this little sideroad more visible (and consumer friendly).

As for the office I think Shinagawa station would be ok; at least easy to go for employees and visitors.

Roppongi for me is just a noisy area I try to avoid. Roppongi Hills is ok; but expensive and crowded. Also try to avoid except we have visitors.

OT: we should meet for the next launch of iPad/iPhone; and Arn send use some MR basecaps; but March is still cold :rolleyes:
 
marc11 said:
I agree 100% about Ropppongi and the Nigerians...but anyone with street smarts should know to avoid them. But to be clear, it isn't just Nigereans, there are a number of people, even Japanese you need to be careful about in Roppongi; many Nigereans or people you may assume to be are normal everyday people. However for those that do not know, Roppongi Hills and Azabu-Juban are not the same as the big night life area of Roppongi. They are close by, but not the same atmosphere or "issues".
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No normal person from Africa is trying to get you into some club/bar. They are ALL touts and, for the most part, ALL trouble.

Some engineering student from Togo isn't going to try to get you into a "health club" at 2am.

/Of course I use the term "Nigerian" broadly to cover every western African tout working in Roppongi (or Kabuki-cho).
 
Moopy Sac said:
No normal person from Africa is trying to get you into some club/bar. They are ALL touts and, for the most part, ALL trouble.

Some engineering student from Togo isn't going to try to get you into a "health club" at 2am.

/Of course I use the term "Nigerian" broadly to cover every western African tout working in Roppongi (or Kabuki-cho).
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Right. I just meant that it would be unfair to assume a man of color in Roppongi is automatically Nigerian and automatically trouble. The dudes push girls and clubs yes are trouble. And yeah you can find similar pushers in shinjuku that are Japanese.
 
Albright said:
Granted, we just explored the shopping area, so perhaps the actual office towers are much more interesting - I wouldn't know. I don't think I'd want to work there, though, since you'd be in for quite a walk if you wanted to go somewhere affordable for lunch, I think…

At any rate, I think it's odd to see Roppongi referred to as "the trendy area" of Tokyo. There's maybe half a dozen places that could be called "trendy areas" of Tokyo; Harajuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ginza, Shinjuku… (Maybe I could name more if I were at all trendy myself.)
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If you are working there, then usually you don't care about cheap, although at lunchtime ,most restaurants offer menus in the ¥1000-¥2000 range. On weekends and holidays, they bump up the prices for the visitors/tourists:eek:.

That's a funny list of trendy places, but others have already mentioned a few of them.

The hardest part of relocating a large office in Tokyo is finding free office space large enough. There are lots of benefits to be in the new modern buildings, plus Roppongi Hills has museums, event space, cinema, has a very high reputation as one of Mori Towers finest buildings, and is bang in the middle of some of the best areas. As I said before, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the top management lived close by (I am thinking, Aoyama, Gaienmae, Nishi Azabu, Shirokanedai) and they wouldn't be taking the train anyway.
 
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