The Glitz and Glam of Tokyo
Ginza is a famous high-end fashion and electronics district. It’s easily accessible from central Tokyo and the district is a trendy upscale shopping area, with a diverse range of renowned department stores, boutiques, restaurants and cafés. In this article we will go through the top things one can do in Ginza.
Window Shopping
The purpose of Ginza is to shop. But if you don’t want to drain your bank balance you can do the next best thing; go window shopping. Walking along Ginza’s central street will take you past a wide array of stores. These range from specialised boutiques to some of the most famous department stores in Japan. After 17:00 and on some weekends, Ginza becomes a traffic free zone, which means exploring this shopping metropolis is quite a treat and a wonderful experience.
Enjoy a luxury coffee and cheesecake
Ginza is the go to place in Tokyo for a short café getaway. Established brands such Grand Café Doubtor, Hoshino to Miyakoshiya Coffee cater to the luxury café experience. These cafés are great to experience high-end café service in Japan; the best service you will ever experience.
See the latest tech
Many technology companies have their flagship stores on Ginza’s central street. Here you can get a glimpse of some of the latest tech from these big name brands such as Sony, before they are ever released.
Hamarikyu Garden Park
Hamarikyu Garden was converted into a public park at the turn of the 20th Century, but prior to this, they were private gardens of the ruling Tokugawa family. The park still retains its prestige and one of the few green patches left in Tokyo. It is well worth a visit to take a glimpse into what it would be like to live like the ruling class.
Kabuki-za Theatre
Kabuki-za in Ginza is the main theatre in Tokyo for traditional kabuki drama. If you ever want to see traditional Kabuki drama, this is the place to go. There is also a little museum where you can learn about Kabuki and a souvenir store to take a little Kabuki back with you.
Ginza Mitsukoshi
Ginza Mitsukoshi, founded in 1673, is the oldest department chain in Japan, and a name every local will know. The Ginza branch has 12 floors with everything you would expect from a department store. The endearing quality of this store is it remaining true to its Japanese origin. This makes the shopping experience different than a traditional western one, and stepping through those doors will give you a shopping experience like no other.
Tsukiji Jougai
A visit to Tsukiji Jougai is seafood lovers paradise. The famous Tuna auction was held at the Tsukiji inner market, but this has since moved to the Toyosu market. The Tsukiji outer market is still here selling their freshly caught fish. If wandering around the outer markets isn’t your thing, then head on over to the local restaurants along the narrow lanes as they have some of the best sashimi you will ever try.
Uniqlo Flagship store
Uniqlo is a popular Japanese clothing brand. If you are into Japanese fashion, then a visit to their flagship store in Ginza is highly recommended. This store has 12 floors showcasing the wares for men, women and children. The 11th floor is dedicated to limited edition apparel and special T-Shirts that are exclusive to the Ginza store. It’s well worth a visit even if you are not into Japanese fashion as the large selection and exclusive apparel may appeal to you. If not, it would still be fun browsing through 12 floors of clothes.
See the latest cars
Many Japanese automobile manufacturers have their own showroom in and around Ginza. If you are a car enthusiast then these showrooms are great place to see the latest cars on offer, and any new innovations within the automobile industry.
Tokyo International Forum
The Tokyo international Forum is just north of Ginza. It’s a great place to dine out, shop or browse the attending exhibitions. If that isn’t your forte, then the forum is a great place to admire the design of the building. Its architecture is unique, being built out of steel truss and glass, while the outside is shaped to resemble an elongated boat.
