Venerable wagashi purveyors Toraya have been in the confectionery business for around five centuries, so you can count on them to know a thing or two about sweets. At their newest café, you can enjoy handmade wagashi in their freshest form while sitting at the counter and watching the artisans at work (reservations required).
Toraya Ginza 3-B
02 Shopping Marvel at traditional stationery
Japanese paper and incense specialist Kyukyodo was established in Kyoto in 1663 and arrived in Ginza in 1880. The first and part of the second floor have a selection of pretty postcards and lots of small items made from colourful washi paper. The second floor also stocks high-grade incense, the scent of which envelops you upon exiting the elevator.
Kyukyodo 3 - C
03 Things to do Play with cutting-edge tech
The Mitsubishi Electric-run Metoa hosts a showroom highlighting the company’s efforts to harness the power of technology for a more sustainable society. There’s plenty of fun for kids here, too, from brainy games to smartphone-directed robots, all free and accessible without reservations. The firstfloor café has a children’s menu.
Metoa Ginza 2- C
04 Things to do Engage in urban bathing
Hidden within the Ginza Hotel by Granbell next to Corridor-gai, this stylish, tattoo-friendly spa wows with a calming blue interior and soft lighting. Don’t pass up on the luxury of rounding out a sweaty sauna session with a dip in the cold tub, all right in the heart of Ginza.
Corridor no Yu 2- B
05 Restaurant Give it up for avocado udon
Run by a greengrocer with more than 150 years of history, Daitsune pairs satisfyingly plump, housemade wheat noodles with the freshest seasonal veg – and goes into the left field with toppings like avocado and tomatoes. The sides selection looks equally quirky, but there’s no faulting the texture or taste of the asparagus tempura.
Daitsune Udon 4- B
06 Bar Kick back high above the city
Tokyu Plaza Ginza’s new rooftop café and bar blows the competition out of the water with a swanky white-tile pool area, calming greens and, at night, inspired cocktails by a starstudded crew of bartenders.
07 Restaurant Opt for a meaty family meal
Grazing on the lush plains of Aso, Kumamoto Akaushi is one of Japan’s rarest top-grade wagyu breeds. Taste the difference at Tsubameya, a gem of a steakhouse that’s especially popular among families, thanks to ample space for buggies and a willingness to tailor meals to children’s tastes upon request (when booking in advance).
Tsubameya 2-E
08 Restaurant
Discover the true taste of rice
Who knew plain white rice could taste this heavenly? Handpicked by a resident ‘rice master’, the steaming, shiny deliciousness served straight out of a clay pot at Hachidaime Gihey attracts lengthy queues at lunchtime. For a true feast, go for the full-course rice dinner, in which the star of the show gets paired with a plethora of seasonal ingredients.
Hachidaime Gihey 2- C
Stroll and relax in the middle of Ginza’s busiest thoroughfare
On weekends and holidays, Ginza’s main avenue is completely off-limits to vehicles, making it a pedestrians’ paradise. Tables and chairs, complete with parasols, are occasionally set up for you to take a break in the middle of the road.
09 Bar Find your local, Ginza style
Home to hundreds of bars, Ginza is an imbiber’s heaven known especially for its upscale cocktail establishments. To get their bearings, first-time visitors will want to start at a casual boozer like Namban 1934, where you can kick back on a couch, sip expertly crafted concoctions and enjoy reasonably priced gourmet nibbles prepared at restaurants in the same building. Namban 1934 2- C
10 Shopping Snack on artisanal Edo-era sweets
Founded in 1890, this heritage store’s signature product is fukiyose, an assortment of traditional candy and confectionery. Opt for the Japan Box, a beautiful dark brown tin with gold motifs filled with colourful treats moulded in shapes inspired by the four seasons as well as Mt Fuji. Ginza Kikunoya Main Store 3 - C
The Mint Ginza 2- C
11
Bar
Relax over drinks and good music
Music producer Shinichi Osawa is behind this music bar that boasts a collection of over 3,000 records. You can listen to rock, jazz, soul and electro on a top-quality sound system that’s sure to fill your night with aural pleasure.
Ginza Music Bar 3- B
12
Art
Get your art fix
Run by cosmetics giant Shiseido, this gallery hosts group and solo shows by contemporary Japanese and international artists, as well as occasional retrospectives and fashionrelated exhibitions. You’ll find the space in the basement of the Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Building.
13 Café
Shiseido Gallery 3 - B
Enjoy wagashi with tea pairing
This beautiful tea salon is well known for its traditional Japanese sweets like yokan (sweet bean jelly), castella cakes and monaka wafers. You can also enjoy a Japanese-style afternoon tea with two different brews that enhance the taste of the sweets.
Ginza 3 - E
14 Shopping Acquire a modern kimono
Striving to create kimono fit for the 21stcentury, these innovators are extremely selective when it comes to fabric and artisanship and can help create the perfect outfit just for you. Stroll the streets of Ginza in one of their made-to-order creations and you’ll be sure to turn heads.
Ginza Motoji 3- D
15
Shopping Take your souvenir picks to the next level
With a keen eye for artisanship and quirkiness alike, the late Yukio Fujimaki made a name for himself as an unmatched curator of unique made-in-Japan crafts and gifts. His legacy is upheld by this wonder of a souvenir shop, packed with items like space-themed Edo Kiriko glassware that combine quality with memorable designs.
Fujimaki Select 2- C
16 Art
Admire breathtaking ceramics
Innovative works by modern craftspeople and masterpieces by some of the country’s most famous ceramicists appear to float like shining celestial bodies in the midst of darkness at venerable pottery dealer Ginza Kuroda Touen’s newly opened flagship, a marvel of a gallery and shop featuring interior design by acclaimed architect Hiroshi Naito.
Ginza Kuroda Touen 3- B
17 Shopping Choose
This store is for you if you’ve bought your dream kimono but are still looking for the perfect footwear. Rather than picking up cheap wooden clogs from a souvenir shop, head to this long-established store for top-quality traditional sandals that will match your outfit. It also has bags and Japanese umbrellas to complete the look. Ginza Zenya 3 - A
Higashiya
18 Shopping Invest in impressive souvenirs
Founded in 1880, these specialists in shippo (traditional Japanese cloisonné) are renowned for the magnificent translucent colours of their products, which range from eye-catching brooches and vases to chopstick rests, sake cups and other items that add a little something special to daily life.
Ando Cloisonne
3 - C
19
Shopping
Shop for edible art
In business since 1804, Matsuzaki Shoten has shelves stocked with its popular Ooedo Matsuzaki Shamido. These sweet squareshaped crackers, known as kawara senbei, feature motifs representing the four seasons. There’s also an eat-in corner where you can enjoy a Matsuzaki Roll, a dessert with fillings encased inside a soft, folded kawara senbei.
Matsuzaki Shoten 4- C
20 Bar Sip on tea-infused cocktails
Enjoy Japanese-style cocktails at this cosy bar inside Ginza Six shopping mall. Mixology Salon specialises in what it calls ‘teatails’ as the concoctions are made with tea-infused spirits ranging from gyokuro vodka to sencha-infused gin, all blended in-house. Note that kids are not allowed to enter past 5pm.
Mixology Salon 3 - B
21 Bar
Explore a boozy jungle
A dimly lit space replete with plants that wouldn’t look out of place in a rainforest, Libre styles itself a ‘jungle bar’ and offers an appropriately rich variety of cocktails made with tropical fruits. But you’ll also find mixtures centring Japanese ingredients such as yuzu and hojicha, plus a tasty selection of mocktails. Bar Libre 3 - E
Eat well at a basement depachika
Long-established department stores
Matsuya Ginza and Ginza Mitsukoshi are famed for their extensive depachika (underground food halls) featuring row after row of takeout delights from rice balls to gourmet bento and sushi boxes. You’ll even find coin lockers with built-in coolers to keep your food fresh until you’ve finished shopping.
Matsuya Ginza, Ginza Mitsukoshi 3- D
22
Introduce the kids to washoku
Ginza Jisaku is a fancy, traditional Japanese restaurant that welcomes families with open arms. Book a private room and meals in advance for best results; for a truly unique experience, go for the okuizome special, a luxurious spread traditionally eaten to celebrate 100 days after a child’s birth. Also, let the restaurant know beforehand if you need to use the elevator for a buggy or wheelchair.
Ginza Jisaku 4 - B
23 Shopping
Savour Japanese wine
Descend into venerable vino dealer Fujiki’s ‘cave’ to pick from around 300 domestic and imported natural wines. The resident sommeliers are happy to help you choose quality Japanese bottles from regions including Yamanashi, Yamagata and Hokkaido.
Ginza Cave Fujiki 3 - C
24
Restaurant
Sip the cleanest tonkotsu soup
26 Restaurant
Eat out in style
The Hyatt Centric Ginza’s all-day dining restaurant keeps things glamorous with its stylish décor as well as an open kitchen and a terrace overlooking Namiki-dori. Head here for the Bar & Lounge’s daily happy hour, where discounts apply all day (subject to change).
Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo Namiki667 2- B
27 Café Try a Ginza-style breakfast
Fukuoka-born Tsukiya reimagines the classic, creamy Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen by opting for a light, clear and refreshing soup packed with the natural sweetness of pork. Green onions, myoga (Japanese ginger) and a kabosu citrus wedge are served alongside each bowl, but you really should try the broth as-is before adding toppings.
Ginza Tsukiya 3 - B
25
Shopping Upgrade your
wardrobe
Run by renowned kimono purveyor Ginza Fujiya and specialising in top-quality, made-in-Japan womenswear, Pepian is a trusted name among Ginza’s fashion-forward ladies, who love the boutique’s penchant for fusing traditional styles with bright colours and playful patterns.
Ginza Pepian 2 - E
Set yourself up for a day of exploring with a simple but oh-so-satisfying morning meal from this nostalgia-packed café. Served from 8am to 11.30am, Tricolore’s classic brekkie stars a super-thick slice of toast, accompanied by fresh salad and coffee – get the café au lait for the chance to watch an old-school pouring ‘performance’.
Tricolore 3 - C
28 Shopping Create your own fragrance Koju 4- D
Koju stocks around 100 different kinds of incense, with fragrances such as sakura, momiji and lotus flower. You can even create your own scented sachet at the on-site workshop (reservations essential). Blend scented oils and plant-based aroma-producing ingredients, and place the mixture inside a colourful sachet made by Kyoto craftsmen.
Withdraw money round-the-clock
While most of Ginza’s shops take credit cards, there are still some that only accept cash. But don’t worry; just pop into a convenience store near you. The ATMs at most konbini are open round the clock and they let you withdraw money using international credit and cash cards (with a small fee, of course). These machines offer multiple languages, including English.
29 Café Recharge with a caffeine boost
Take a break from shopping to enjoy a cuppa at this coffee shop. Order the Bongen Latte Rich for an extra boost of energy –it’s made from double the amount of coffee beans than a standard latte. The matcha latte and amazake soy latte, which pack a shot of espresso each, are also noteworthy.
Bongen Coffee 4 - E
30 Shopping Stock up on your favourite tea
Located next to Ginza Station’s B3 exit is Cha Ginza, a shop offering an assortment of Japanese tea at affordable prices. Tasting is encouraged, and the resident ‘tea concierges’ are happy to impart brewing tips for specific varieties. Tea utensils are sold on the second floor. Cha Ginza 3 - C
Enter toy heaven 31 Shopping
This multi-storey emporium, one of Tokyo’s biggest toy shops, is a showcase for the wacky, the cuddly and the cute, all with a Japanese twist. Shop for Akita and Shiba inu plushies, anime and manga figurines, miniature vehicles and more. Don’t forget to take part in a toy car race – five minutes of fun costs a mere ¥200. Hakuhinkan Toy Park 3 - A
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Published June 28 2024
Please note that the information in this guide is subject to change.
