From a Humble Temple Town to a Bustling International City Some say that Roppongi--literally meaning six trees--was derived from six pine trees that stood in the area. Others say that the town was named after six homes with arboreal names owned by feudal lords. Either way, Roppongi was not established as a city until the Yedo period (1603-1868) when distinguished Buddhist monks built four temples in the deserted district. Roppongi remained a quiet temple town and was occupied by the military before the war. After World War II the Akasaka and Azabu area was taken over by the U.S. troops and the number of bars, coffee shops, night clubs, hotels and restaurants accommodating U.S. servicemen increased. The opening of the Haiyu-za (a performance theater) and the TV Asahi studio attracted film production studios and celebrities to Roppongi. The rapid internationalization and modernization of the city owes much to history. Today, you can get a great view of the Tokyo Tower from the Roppongi intersection.