The Ginza (銀座) district of Tokyo, literally “Silver Mint”, is in the Chuo ward. It is considered the high fashion center of the city and contains many upscale shops and restaurants.
Tourist Attractions
- Weekends on Chuo-dori are Pedestrians’ Paradise (歩行者天国), with the street closed to motor traffic during the day.
Hours for the “pedestrian district” (roads are closed to vehicular traffic)
| October to march | April to September | |
| SAT | 12:00-17:00 | 12:00-18:00 |
| SUN&HOLI | 12:00-17:00 | 12:00-18:00 |
- Kabukiza Theater (歌舞伎座 Kabukiza), The best way to see traditional Japanese theater is to go to Kabuki-za for a single act, or hitomaku-mi, which lasts between one and two hours. This costs around ¥800, depending on the length, and seating is on the fourth floor. An English audio guide describes the play while you watch, it is worthwhile at ¥400. You can also see the complete kabuki play, but this is a lengthy affair, and ticket prices can range from ¥3500 to ¥20,000. If it’s around mealtime, pick up a bento at one of the local shops and take it in. The Kabukiza will be demolished in April 2010, with a new, rebuilt version to be ready by 2013.
Shopping
Ginza is the home of Tokyo’s oldest and most prestigious Department Stores. And of course there are many boutiques of world famous brands; Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Prada etc… (as do most other fashion brands you can think of.)
Major Department store business hours and holidays
| Ginza Printemps 3-2-1 Ginza 03-3567-0077 |
11:00-20:30 Closes at 19:30 on Sundays and Mondays |
| Matsuya Ginza 3-6-1 Ginza 03-3567-1211 |
10:00-20:00 Closes at 21:00 on Fridays |
| Ginza Mitsukoshi 4-6-16 Ginza 03-3562-1111 |
10:00-20:00 |
| Sukiyabashi Hankyu 5-2-1 Ginza 03-3575-2011 |
10:30-21:00 |
| Ginza Matsuzakaya 6-10-1 Ginza 03-3572-1111 |
10:30-19:30 Closes at 20:00 from Thursday to Saturday. |
| Ginza Komatsu 6-9-5 Ginza 03-3571-8555 |
11:00-20:00 |
World Famous Brand Stores at Ginza
- Hermes GINZA
- GIORGIO ARMANI
- COACH GINZA
- Christian Dior GINZA
- Luis Vuitton GINZA NAMIKI STREET
- Gucci GINZA
- Tiffany & Co Main
- PRADA
- Emilio Pucci
- Cartier GINZA
- CHANEL GINZA Namiki Street
- DOLCE & GABBANA
- BOTTEGA VENETA
- BURBERRY GINZA etc…..
Other places for shopping
Tokyo Kyukyodo (東京鳩居堂),
- ☎ +81 03-3571-4429.
- Located right across the street from Wako Building and the landmark clock tower on Ginza’s main intersection, this two-floor shop specializes in the traditional Japanese paraphernalia (papers, fans, calligraphy brushes, votive scents etc.). A popular stop for foreigners in search for something exotic and traditional.
Itoya
- ☎ +81 03-3216-0041.
- Beside the Matsuya department store, which is beside the Mitsukoshi department store which in turn is across the street from Wako Clock Tower. A 9-floor building packed with all things stationary, from pencils to paintbrushes, you name it. a stationery shop with a collection of this size is hard to come by in Japan.
Yurakucho Area
- Yurakucho has branches of two large discount electronics stores, BicCamera and Sofmap. So, you can search some electrical appliances even you are not in Akihabara.
- Also, there is OIOI department store beside Yurakucho St. The department store is more for young generations if compare with Matsuzakaya and Takashimaya.
Hakuhinkan Toy Park (博品館)
- Ginza 8-8-11 (south end of Ginza-dori by the elevated highway)
- ☎ +81 03-3571-8008.
- One of the oldest and largest toy stores in Japan (it first opened in 1899), this is the place to go for all the latest cute and strange toys.
Apple Store Ginza
- ☎ +81 03-5159-8200.
- The ultimate in high-tech hipness, where de rigueur neckwear means an iPod, not a black tie. Housed in a giant pearly-white cube, of course.
Tenshodo (天賞堂)
- Ginza 4-3-9 (on Harumi-dori)
- ☎ +81 03-3562-0025.
- Jewelery and luxury watches makers. The upper floors, however, are devoted to model trains, many of the watches in intricacy and price.
- ☎ +81 03-3535-4611.
- The inventors of cultured pearls, has their inaugural shop located right next to Wako. It is selling various pearl jeweries as the leader of this market.
Accomodations
Accommodation in Ginza itself is limited and expensive. You can shave a fair bit off the price by heading around the corner to Shimbashi, which is a major train hub and has lots of serviceable mid-range and capsule hotels.
List of major hotels
| Mercure Ginza Hotel | 2-9-4 Ginza | 03-4335-1111 |
| The Peninsula Tokyo | 1-8-1 Yuraku-cho | 03-6270-2888 |
| Hotel Gracery Ginza | 7-10-1 Ginza | 03-6686-1000 |
| Hotel Monterey Ginza | 2-10-2 Ginza | 03-3544-7111 |
| Hotel Com’s Ginza | 8-6-15 Ginza | 03-3572-4131 |
| Mitsui Garden Hotel premiere Ginza | 8-13-1 Ginza | 03-3543-1131 |
| Imperial Hotel | 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku | 03-3504-1111 |
| Dai-ichi Hotel Annex | 1-5-2 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku | 03-3503-5611 |
| Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo | 1-2-6 Shinbashi, Minato-ku | 03-3501-4411 |
How to get there
Nearest Stations
- JR line “Yurakucho” station
- Subway Tokyo Metro “Ginza” station
By train
- From Narita Airport:Take the Keisei Skyliner and change at Nippori to the Yamanote Line. And get off at Yurakucho.(about 93 minutes)
- From Tokyo station:Take the JR Yamanote Line and get off at Yurakucho.(about 5 minutes)
- From Ueno station:Take the JR Yamanote Line and get off at Yurakucho.(about 12 minutes)
- From Shinjuku station:Take the JR Chuo Line and change at Kanda to the Yamanote Line. And get off at Yurakucho.(about 25 minutes)
- From Ikebukuro station:Take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and get off at Ginza.(about 23 minutes)
- From Shibuya station:Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and get off at Ginza.(about 21 minutes)
By bus
- From Narita Airport : Airport Limousine Bus (80-90 mins) – 3000YEN