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Eat, explore, eat, and explore some more. That’s always been the gist of this website. So today, we’re going to take a look at the ever popular Ginza. Popular in that Ginza is arguably the root cause of foreigners taking shopping vacations in Tokyo. Flagship stores left and right, there’s no denying it’s the center of materialism. Not a big shopper? That’s okay. There are plenty of other reasons why one would visit Ginza. This post will reveal what you can expect from a day in the area.
The main area of Ginza where all the big flagships are located is along Chuo Dori (street). Take either Tokyo Metro’s Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, or Hibiya Line to get to Ginza Station. I covered in my mini series of How to Get Around Tokyo by Transit that there is more than one company operating the transit systems in Tokyo. Tokyo Metro is one of two that operate the subways. Getting to Ginza using any of those subway lines is pretty hassle free. Which exit you take will depend on what line you took. Simply find your way to Chuo Dori.
Plan your trip to Ginza on weekends. The main section of Chuo Dori becomes pedestrian-only so there’s more space to walk. Despite being the weekend it won’t feel crowded at all. Not only that, many stores and such will put out patio tables and chairs in the middle of the road. On a nice sunny day, how amazing would it be to chat over some coffee with good company so freely? Sounds incredibly relaxing to me. Love how weekends are used to enjoy life this way. This is urban space magic. You might also catch a few camera crews filming in the area. It is, after all, the ever popular Ginza district.
Shoppers, other than department stores and major flagships you might be interested in – Apple, Sony, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, etc. – there’s a building in particular that may be just as appealing. It’s called the Wako store and can be recognized by its distinct architecture and clock on the top. They sell a variety of watches, jewelry and handbags to name a few. You might be able to snatch a prized possession to bring home.
Heading south along Chuo Dori towards the Tokyo Expressway, there’s a store called Hakuhinkan Toy Park (銀座博品館). This is more for the kids but because they sell a variety of fun items, you might be able to pick up some goodies too. How about some unique KitKat flavors? I noticed one that is wasabi which I’ve seen before, but two that particularly caught my attention were almond tofu and soy sauce. Soy sauce?! Now that’s what confuses the palate. I like.
Tokyo is home to various museums and art galleries. There’s everything from the Edo period to 21st century technology. So much so that the more I visited these exhibits, the more I look forward to the next. Ginza is home to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Museum. This museum shows the history of Tokyo’s police force using displays of art, objects, clothing, equipment, and other media. It’s located along Chuo Dori but on the opposite direction of Hakuhinkan Toy Park. So you’ll have to head back north until you hit a different Tokyo Expressway bridge. Once you pass the bridge it’s on your right. Admission to the museum is free. No photography is allowed. I sneaked one in before I knew.
In terms of art galleries, Nichido Garo is a must visit for anyone into art. The Ginza location opens weekdays from 10am to 7pm and weekends from 11am to 6pm. It is away from Chuo Dori but located on another major street called Sotobori Dori making it easy to find. Map below.
Finally, what’s a full day of activities without food? How about some gyudon at Yoshinoya? It’s located right along Chuo Dori. The menu is rather limited with a few beef bowl choices and a few sides – soups, salads, and egg. The beef bowl is soft, warm rice topped with a slapping of beef slices drenched in some soy sauce. Add some pickled ginger to your bowl as you please to get a tangy kick of flavor.
Why do I name this place out of all the restaurants and cafés around Ginza? Well, Yoshinoya is the cheapest meal you can get in the area and after a full day of shopping, it might ease the wallet. This bowl of gyudon costs ¥280 and does well for comfort food, which is likely why Yoshinoya is a top choice for salarymen, so don’t be surprised to find stores full of men in suits. As for this location, you might see everything from young children to seniors.
Without a doubt, Ginza is rather commercialized. But digging around the area, you may find some pleasant surprises as I have. It’s a vibrant district and will not fall short of keeping your eyes wandering all over the place like a child in a candy store as soon as you head out of the subway. A worthy visit indeed. Enjoy!
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