Ginza

The silver mint in Edo period, now major shopping destination

Ginza is the centre of dining and shopping in Japan and it is also the most expensive piece of land. In 2007, Goldman Sachs acquired Tiffany Building in Ginza for 37 billion yen (54 million yen per square meter, 5 million yen per square foot).

Ginza was designed to attract the most modern restaurants and shops. Back in Edo Period, Ginza was just a town for craftsmen. After the Great Earthquake in 1923, Ginza was completely rebuilt with bricks in order to avoid another fire and to show off to Westerners Japan’s advancement. Ginza sought for anything Western and modern. With a closer look, you might notice that architectures in Ginza adopt styles of different era and modes without much consistency as a consequence. The new Ginza attracted successful merchants who served upper-class customers, and craftsmen had to move out due to sky-rocketing land price. The town for craftsmen was transformed into the showcase of modern Japan.

During the World War II most of Tokyo was destroyed, but brick buildings in Ginza survived. The Occupation Army was headquartered in Daiichi Life Building in the area, and department stores became Post Exchanges (shops for soldiers). Ginza attracted people to dine and shop even under the Occupation.

After being returned to Japanese, Ginza rapidly regained its prominence as in today. You can find top restaurants of all genre and the flagship boutiques of leading brands in Ginza.

Handpicked links

Restaurants near Ginza Station

Our own list of popular restaurants near Ginza Station.

Ginza by Rough Guides

Ginza, the "place where silver is minted", took its name after Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu started making coins here in the early 1600s.