Tokyo: the Ginza district 銀座

  • Published on : 14/04/2020
  • by : J.L.T.B. / I.D.O.

The Champs-Elysées of Japan: luxury shopping in Ginza

High-end boutique addicts love the chic and shocking district of Ginza. Enthusiasts of contemporary architecture come to admire buildings tending to an innovative perfection of lines and shapes. The most curious sneak through its alleys where small shops, bars and restaurants established there for decades have given a special character to a place sometimes called "Fifth Avenue of Japan".

Discovery of the most popular Ginza

Tokyo is a city of contrasts and Ginza is no exception. From its past, the district has kept its Shinto shrines, nine in total, which serve to protect the district and its inhabitants. For example, one can discover, wedged between two buildings, the small Toyoiwa Inari shrine, dedicated to the god Ukemochi-no-mikoto, who is supposed to protect against fires but also to promote the encounter with a soul mate for 400 years.

Alongside the ostentatious luxury of big brand stores, there are also small, somewhat outdated boutiques, legendary bars such as Lupine, and restaurants established in the district long before the brands competed for it. The Kimuraya bakery, she sells anpan (Anko "red bean paste" bun) since 1874. In the streets, one can also find the used camera store, arthouse cinemas, and even two sentos, public baths, the Ginza-Yu and the Onsen Komparu-yu.

Going from the world of high-fashion and Michelin star restaurants to that of nudity in public baths straight out of the 19th century is an experience that only Tokyo can offer!

And if you can't afford designer clothes, Ginza is also home to the largest Uniqlo store in the world. Opened in 2012, it spans 12 floors, i.e. 53,375 m2 !

UNIQLO, Ginza

UNIQLO, Ginza

Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, Wikimedia

Hidden in the Ginza district, the onsen Komparu is a set of bathroom quite affordable.

Hidden in the Ginza district, the onsen Komparu is a set of bathroom quite affordable.

Japanese art in Ginza

Apart from private art galleries, many large brands and shopping complexes host temporary exhibitions. The Shiseido Gallery, opened in 1919, is the oldest art gallery in Japan. It offers rotating exhibitions on contemporary art that are completely free.

Ginza 6, Ginza Place, is also home to exhibition halls and modern art galleries.

Photography enthusiasts can take a look at the small Canon Gallery Ginza showroom, located in the same building as a Canon camera repair center.

The front of the new kabuki theater (Kabuki-za) in Ginza.

The front of the new kabuki theater (Kabuki-za) in Ginza.

DR

The room circular projection of the Sony Center in Ginza is an opportunity to keep the memory of an electronic ultra-Tokyo.

The room circular projection of the Sony Center in Ginza is an opportunity to keep the memory of an electronic ultra-Tokyo.

DR

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Address, timetable & access

  • Address

  • Timetable

    Take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line to Ginza station.

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