I like to think of the geography of Midtown as being similarly laid out to a grid pattern city. Similarly I liken the unorthodox layout of Roppongi Hills to the geography of London. Some may prefer the straightforward approach that a grid pattern offers, and others may prefer something which is unique, and to many, architecturally beautiful.

I can see where going down straight hallways to a corner, turning 90 degrees and going to the third shop on the right in what is effectively the basement of an office tower would appeal to some. Me, I prefer more of the city within a city feel as opposed to the mall under the city feel. Different strokes I suppose.

As for access the visitor exiting the Hibiya train at the front and going out the turnstile towards Azabu gate must walk a couple blocks above ground to get to the project. This differs from the visitor to Roppongi Hills exiting the Oedo Line and ascending to street level how? Let’s be honest, to get to the underground passage from the Hibiya Line station at all the visitor to Midtown should have more than a passing familiarity with the station. The return trip is certainly easier. The Hibiya Line access to Roppongi Hills is far and away the most direct connection of all the possibilities. Which as was pointed out is "OK" with me. ^

The “Manhattan Deli” is indeed targeted at the local market. I think if I were an American (Oh wait I am ), I would hold off on the purchase of American food until I were in America. Would probably, "ahem", hit a place offering local cuisine first.

Restaurants at both Midtown and Roppongi Hills are very good, and personal preferences aside, I think the Tokyo resident gets major benefits from the synergistic collocation of the two in Roppongi. Finding things such as restaurants in the basement mall that is Midtown is easy as anybody could want. Overwhelmingly mall-esque, but for some that is popular. Works for Pacific Place in Hong Kong, but then again that has never been my favorite style of development. Not entirely sure what about Roppongi Hills makes one think of lemmings though. Is it the up to 100,000 unique visitors a day that remind you of the mass migrations of lemmings? Or is perhaps the stuff that goes on in places like Heartland and Oak Door that remind you of the mating proclivity of lemmings? I can maybe see the point in those two interpretations.

Overall I far prefer to focus on Midtown's unique efforts to bring design into one place, give it a home and support it. I love their efforts with the park at the back, and the beautiful architecture that is 21_21 Design Sight. I am a huge fan of another music venue with the Billboard club. Using Kengo Kuma’s work in the lobby of the office tower was genius.

I for one am going to say that Midtown, although relatively quiet at night is more than a nightspot. It is a great addition to the area, a project that in many ways proposes unique development ideas, brings validity to Roppongi, and will I believe be the needed momentum for the groundswell that is the clean up of the decidedly seedy area that surrounds the crossing.

Mike