Ginza Central Street is the most famous shopping street in Japan. Lots of high brand shops are lined up and just walking around makes you feel good. It is often referred to Ginza Central Street as eastern New York’s 5th Avenue! On Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, the street becomes a car free zone from noon to evening. You can feel more free and relaxed during this car free zone time.
Ginza・Hibiya・Nihonbashi
Ginza is the best place to have shopping. Lots of high brand shops are lined up and just walking the street makes us feel like we’re super rich. If you want to take a look at Eastern New York’s 5th Avenue, we would like you to visit here. On Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, the street becomes a car free zone from noon to evening. You can feel more free and relaxed during this car free zone time. Nihonbashi is big downtowns where have long history. These areas have great selections of shopping spots, cafes, izakayas, and lush greenery. Moreover, it has movie theaters, museums, and is even close to Ginza. These 3 places are also business towns so you can see lots of business men wearing suits. Yurakucho is one of the best places where have many local Izakayas. Hibiya has the famous Hibiya park and Nihonbashi is beautifully organized town. Don’t miss best parts of each place!
Where is Ginza/Hibiya/Nihonbashi
High brand shops everywhere! Best place to enjoy shopping for a whole day!
Streets are taken up with high end stores at this most luxurious area in Tokyo. Especially in Ginza, it would be hard to find international high brand shops that don’t have Ginza branch. The area also has lots of traditional department stores and shops with authentic products!
Ginza Area
New York’s 5th Avenue in Japan!
Ginza Six opened in April, 2017 is one of the largest luxurious shopping complexes on the Ginza Central Street. It has more than 200 stores of high brand shops, Japanese good-old crafts stores, restaurants, and artworks stores. Temporary interior decorations collaborating with famous artists are the highlights. Ginza Six Garden on the rooftop floor is the largest park in Ginza. You can see Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree from here!
A luxurious shopping complex in Ginza
Ginza Mitsukoshi opened in 1930 is a luxurious department store with a long history. It is located in front of Ginza Wako, a department store. The lion statue at the entrance is the symbol of Mitsukoshi. High-end fashion, jewelry, watches, and crafts stores are lined up. Don’t forget to check the depachika floor, the basement floor filled with beautiful food!
A department store with a long history!
Matsuya Ginza opened in May, 1925 is a large department store specializing in fashion and design in Ginza. International brand shops and high quality products are lined up. Matsuya Ginza cherishes Ginza culture which is tradition, innovation, internationality, and locality.
A department store values Ginza culture!
Ginza Wako opened in 1895 is a very luxurious department store located in front of Ginza Mitsukoshi, a department store. Ginza Wako’s clock tower is definitely the landmark of Ginza. High-end fashion stores, jewelry, watches, crafts stores, and food shops are line up!
“A luxurious department store in Ginza!”
Tokyu Plaza Ginza opened in March, 2016 is a stylish shopping complex in Ginza. It has more than 120 stores of high brand shops, select shops, restaurants, and a duty free store. KIRIKO TERRACE on the rooftop floor is the best place to take a rest. The terrace has a GREEN SIDE and a WATER SIDE under the theme of greenery and water.
A fashionable shopping complex in Ginza!
Ginza Place opened in September, 2016 is a modern and futuristic style complex in Ginza. It has NISSAN CROSSING which is the showroom of Nissan, a Japanese automobile company, various restaurants, and the image gallery of Sony, a Japanese electronics company. The exterior design using fretwork as a motif is outstanding and refined.
A futuristic complex in the middle of Ginza!
Marronnier Gate Ginza opened in 1984 is a big shopping complex in Ginza. It has 3 buildings in total and is lined with more than 120 stores of fashion, stationery, and restaurants. Even Ginza has lots of luxurious stores, Marronnier Gate Ginza is lined with quite affordable yet high quality stores.
A big shopping complex in Ginza!
BicCamera Yurakucho store is a leading home appliance store 1 minute away from Yurakucho station. It is filled with various products from the 2nd basement floor to the 7th floor! You can get anything from latest TVs, cameras, phones, beauty products, to toys, and more! It is a duty free store.
BicCamera, a leading home appliance chain store in Yurakucho!
Hibiya Area
Tokyo Midtown opened in March, 2018 is a big shopping complex in Hibiya. It has more than 60 stores of fashion stores, crafts stores, restaurants, and a movie theater. Various offices are located on the upper floors. On the 1st basement floor, you would find a handprints area. It displays over 70 celebrities’ handprints including Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise, and Sylvester Stallone.
A shopping complex in Hibiya!
Nihonbashi Area
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi is very renowned as a classic and genuine department store that products at high quality are lined up. It is also famous as the first place where elevators were put in Japan in 1914. Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi’s current building was built in 1935. The statues of lions at the entrance are the symbol of Mitsukoshi. Please enjoy the architectural beauty while shopping!
Japan’s first department store opened in 1673!
It can be said that every Japanese knows Takashimaya, the famous department store brand. Nihonbashi Takashimaya’s main building was built in 1919 and is designated as an important cultural property by the government. We would like you to check interior decorations of this building while enjoying shopping. Don’t miss the depachika food floor too! Nihonbashi Takashiyama has 3 buildings; annex, east building, and the main building.
One of the oldest department stores in Japan!
COREDO Muromachi is a shopping complex that has 3 shopping zones in Nihonbashi. COREDO Muromachi 1 opened in 2010 and COREDO Muromachi 2, 3 opened in 2014 are lined with fashion stores, traditional crafts stores, nice restaurants, event halls, and a movie theater. As COREDO is a coined word of ‘CORE + EDO,’ the complex aims to acknowledge Nihonbashi’s traditional role as a center of trade in the Edo period.
A shopping complex where old meets new in Nihonbashi!
COREDO Nihonbashi opened in 2004 is a shopping complex located between Mitsukoshi department store and Takashimaya department store. It is lined with refined stores and restaurants. As COREDO is a coined word of ‘CORE + EDO,’ the complex aims to acknowledge Nihonbashi’s traditional role as a center of trade in the Edo period.
A shopping complex with a sophisticated atmosphere!
A spot where you can enjoy Japanese history and culture!
This area is also famous as a city with Japanese tradition. Ginza has Kabukiza theatre where Kabuki is performed and Nihonbashi area is filled with historical buildings and traditional Japanese atmosphere.
Ginza Area
Kabuki is a traditional Japanese show performed by male. All the performers are male and only male are accepted following the tradition. Kabukiza theatre opened in 1889 as a theatre for Kabuki shows. The current theatre opened in 2013 after the renovations from 2010. Kabukiza theatre has a Kabukiza gallery on the 5th floor where you can learn the history of Kabuki.
The historical and traditional theatre for Kabuki performances!
Ginza Corridor Street located between JR Yurakucho station and JR Shinbashi station is a very popular local street filled with restaurants and izakaya, Japanese pubs. As lots of Japanese workers visit here for drinking, the street is always busy at night. Ginza Corridor Street is also famous spot for Nanpa, picking up girls. You can enjoy the local drinking atmosphere!
A local street lined with izakayas!
Nihonbash Area
Bank of Japan, the center of Japanese finance, is to the north of Tokyo station. It is about 10 minutes walk from Tokyo station. Bank of Japan’s building was built in 1896 by Tatsuno Kingo, a famous Japanese architect who also designed Tokyo station. When you see the building from the top, it is shaped ‘円’ which is the Kanji character for Japanese YEN. Currency museum where you can learn the history of Japanese currency is located near the bank.
The building of Bank of Japan is designated as an important cultural property
Mitsui museum is located on the 7th floor of the Mitsui building which is designated as an important cultural property. As it has both temporal and permanent exhibitions, please check the schedule before your visit. Mitsui is a very famous zaibatsu (financial clique) with about 300 years history. The collections by Mitsui family is approximately 4,000!
One of the most renowned museums in Japan!
Tokyo Stock Exchange located in Nihonbashi is the center of stock exchanges in Japan. You can have a look around the facility for free except Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays. It is open from 9:00〜16:00.
The famous stock exchange center in Tokyo!
Fukutoku Jinja Shrine located near COREDO Muromachi is a shrine with a long history. It is said that Fukutoku Jinja Shrine was built during the Jogan Period (859~876). Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st Tokugawa Shogun also visited here many times. Please enjoy the sacred and traditional atmosphere at this shrine.
A historical shrine in Nihonbashi!
Peaceful area with lush greenery in the middle of a metropolis!
Tokyo has lots of shopping complexes and skyscrapers yet it also has beautiful spots where you can enjoy the nature. Hibiya Park, a huge park which is about 160,000 square meters is located at Hibiya! The park has a pond, a flowerbed, a gingko-lined path, and music halls as well. Nihonbashi Bridge in Nihonbashi is a famous stone arch bridge over Nihonbashi River that you can enjoy cruising.
Hibiya Area
Hibiya Park is Japan’s oldest western style park opened in 1903. Until then, the land belonged to the Imperial Palace and was used only for the palace. It has widely opened to the public and been loved by many Japanese since 1903. Seasonal events such as Christmas market and regular music performances are held at the park. When you want to get out from the busiest city, Tokyo, Hibiya Park is the best place.
A large park in the middle of Tokyo!
Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall at Hibiya Park has 2 halls, small and big open-air concert halls. The small hall was built in 1905 as the first open-air concert hall in Japan. It has 1,075 seats and every concerts are for free. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Color Band often plays at this hall. The big open-air concert hall was first built in 1923 and the current hall was built in 1983 after several renovations. The big hall has 2,664 seats and is also used by various artists.
Japan’s first open-air concert hall!
Hibiya Kokaido hall is located inside the Hibiya Park. It is a Neo Gothic architecture built in 1929. The hall is currently closed for renovation. The exact opening year and date is not announced yet. You can still enjoy the beautiful architecture from outside when you visit Hibiya Park.
A multipurpose hall built in 1929!
Nihonbashi Area
This stone arch bridge in Nihonbashi was built in 1911 and was the center of the Tokaido journey, the Eastern Ocean Road, during the Edo period. The statue of an animal made from imagination called Kirin at the center of the bridge is very famous. Kirin has wings which contain a wish for success that people can fly all over Japan and embrace the society. Please also check Nihonbashi cruise experience!
The historical and symbolic bridge in Nihonbashi!
Nihonbashi Cruise is a very recommendable attraction in Nihonbashi. You can enjoy 90 minutes shared or chartered cruise ride with an English speaking guide. A cruise would pass various bridges over Nihonbashi River, Sumida River, Kamejima River, and Kanda River. The ride would definitely show you different faces of Tokyo and how Tokyo has flourished since the Edo period thanks to waterways. Please check the official calendar and reserve the seats in advance!
Enjoy Tokyo views from the river!
When it comes to fish market, it is Tsukiji area!
Tsukiji is within a walking distance of Ginza and Hibiya, luxurious cities. Tsukiji used to have the largest fish market in Japan always bustling from the early morning. The inner market transferred to Toyosu in 2018 but Tsukiji outer market is still very vibrant! Tsukiji has other various attractions to visit too.
Tsukiji Outer Market is the largest seafood market in Japan. Tsukiji’s morning is very early that it gets busy from 5:00am. Restaurants would be usually filled with many tourists from 9:00am. We recommend visiting here around at 8:00am before it gets crowded. As local restaurants you can eat in and food stalls are lined up, you can also enjoy eating around. Please note that about half of the restaurants/stores at the market are closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The most famous and largest outer market in Japan!
Tsukiji Honganji Temple is a Buddhist temple following Jodo Shinshu sect. It is about 3 minutes walk from the Tsukiji outer market. This temple is very famous as it doesn’t look like a typical Japanese temple. The decorations are gorgeous with gold powder and it even has a pipe organ. The current temple opened in 1934 was designed by Chuta Ito, a Japanese architect who travelled around Asian countries.
Japanese modern style temple!
Tsukiji Namiyoke Jinja Shrine is an importatnt Shinto shrine located close to the Tsukiji Outer Market. In the old days, Tsukiji area was sea and people tried to reclaim yet high waves always disturbed. After Tsukiji Namiyoke Jinja Shrine was built in 1659, everything suddenly went well and Tsukiji has become prosperous land! Current shrine was rebuilt in 1937.
A small shrine originally built in 1659!
Hama-Rikyu Garden is a historical garden beside the Sumida River. It was originally built as Tokugawa shogun’s residence and duck hunting site in the Edo period (1603-1868) and was opened to the public in April 1946. Contrasts of skyscrapers and gardens with a tidal pond are very unique. Matcha tea at a tea house is also popular. Cherry blossoms beautifully bloom in spring and you can enjoy autumn leaves in fall.
Beautiful Contrast of Peaceful Gardens and Skyscrapers!