5 Things to do in Ginza, Tokyo’s Most Upscale District

Ginza is known as the upscale, opulent district of Tokyo, but there is more to it than pricey stores. Ginza is a feast for the eyes, brimming with incredible, eye-catching buildings and storefronts designed by illustrious architects. Its architectural prowess is especially evident at night when everything is lit up against the dark sky. So put your best foot forward and explore Ginza alongside the impeccably dressed people enjoying a night on the town. 

Architecture Along Chuo Dori

There is something magical about the streets of Ginza at night. It’s a photographer’s dream come true. The vertical signs shine brightly, the buildings are dipped in golden lighting, and the architectural brilliance of the Chuo Dori main street comes to life.

One of my favorite things to do in Ginza is admire the spectacular architecture of the buildings and storefronts along Chuo Dori, many of which were designed by lauded Japanese and international architects. Aoki Jun designed the Louis Vuitton perforated exterior to emulate the brand’s signature monogram, Tokujin Yoshioka designed the shard-like façade of Swarovski to look like a crystal forest, and the curved windows of Fendi by Nicolas Gwenael mimic the brand’s headquarters in Rome.

You can also take note of the large-scale, ever-changing billboards and ads that grace the building exteriors to see what’s popular in Japan at the moment.

Mitsukoshi Department Store

Mitsukoshi is a massive department store with 12 aboveground floors and four basement floors. Originally founded in 1673 as a kimono retailer, the huge retail space now features everything from clothing, accessories, shoes, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, and home goods. The 8^th floor houses a duty free shop for travelers, and there’s even a barber shop if you want to get cleaned up for a night on the town.

The majority of the store is made up of luxury brands, which is evident from the sleek countertops and displays as well as the impeccably dressed clientele browsing around the store’s offerings.

After all that shopping, you can replenish your energy at the restaurants on the 9^th, 11^th, and 12^th floors or the food stalls on the 2^nd and 3^rd basement floors. For a nice break, shoppers can enjoy the wide and grassy outdoor terrace on the 9^th floor.

Japan is known for its omotenashi, or hospitality, so don’t be surprised when you receive unparalleled customer service from the staff.

Ginza Six

A newer addition to the Chuo Dori main street is Ginza Six, a shopping complex that opened in 2017. Its 47,000 square meters of shopping space renders it one of the largest malls in Japan, with more than 200 stores representing domestic and international luxury brands. Respected architect Yoshio Taniguchi, who also worked on the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, designed the exterior of the building, and Nicolas Gwenael of the Curiosity firm designed the interior.

Ginza Six asserts its dedication to art and culture by pledging to display public art throughout the building at all times in cooperation with the Mori Art Museum. When I visited in spring 2017, the complex’s most striking features were the rotund polka dotted red and white “Pumpkin” art installations suspended from the ceiling by renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

A must-see is the art-focused Tsutaya bookstore on the 6^th floor. It boasts more than 60,000 art books from around the world lining bookshelves that are 6 meters tall. Skylights overhead let in nice natural light as patrons browse for books. The space is a work of art itself.

In addition to the stores, there are multiple restaurants and a food hall as well as a Tourist Service Center for international visitors. The 4,000 square foot rooftop garden offers a nice space to relax and see great views of Tokyo.

Uniqlo Ginza

Though there are many Uniqlo stores in Japan, its flagship store is Uniqlo Ginza, offering 12 floors of clothing for adults, children, and babies. The brand is known for its classic yet hip, polished look, which is reflected in the very cool design of the store: clean lines, bright LED lighting, and reflective mirror ceilings.

Uniqlo often features limited edition collections by well-known artists, musicians, and media franchises. During my visits, I have seen collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Nintendo, and Moomin.

If the price tags in Mitsukoshi and Ginza Six look too scary, fear not. Uniqlo is known for its affordability and sells a wide variety of clothing, making it possible to be stylish without breaking the bank.

Themed Restaurants

Ginza may be known for its upscale appearance, but don’t think it’s too pretentious to play host to some whimsical, fantastical themed restaurants. There are many themed restaurants throughout Tokyo, but two in Ginza really stand out: Alice in a Labyrinth and the Vampire Café.

Alice in a Labyrinth Restaurant

There are six over-the-top Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurants in Japan created by the Diamond Dining company, one being Alice in a Labyrinth in Ginza. After a host dressed as the Mad Hatter checks you in, you will be guided through a maze to get to your table (hence the “Labyrinth” in the name), where servers dressed in Alice’s iconic blue dress and white apron will take your order. Every corner of the restaurant is covered in callbacks to Lewis Carroll’s novel, including floor-to-ceiling reproductions of book pages and illustrations, lots of playing card motifs, and a giant teacup table in the middle of the main dining room. Even the menu folds up into a cool Alice in Wonderland popup book.

The food and drinks are no exception – everything reflects the theme, from the drinks shaped like vials filled with the White Queen’s favorite perfumes to the spaghetti designed to look like the Cheshire Cat to the little signs on the plates that say “Eat Me.” More details on my dining experience here.

Vampire Café

Get ready for some frightening fun at the Vampire Café as wait staff dressed in glamorous vampire getup escorts you into a dimly lit dining space full of spooky décor. Picture coffin-shaped menus, Victorian candelabras, skulls, dark red trimmings, and a few eyeballs here and there. The staff really gets into character as dramatic, formidable vampires, making for a very fun and engaging feast.

When I went, I had garlic toast shaped like a coffin that a vampire sleeps in (oh, the irony), an envelope-shaped pizza with a big rose in the middle meant to look like it contained a secret message, and two ice cream scoops with eight cocoa strips jutting out made to look like a spider. My friend ordered a particular salad that made all the vampire servers come to our table to perform some sort of ritual sacrifice chant as they poured the dressing over it. You don’t have to be fluent in Japanese to appreciate this one-of-a-kind experience.

Note: Because they are themed, these restaurants are a bit on the pricier side due to the entertaining service that comes with them. They tend to get crowded, so it’s best to make reservations beforehand.

 

(All photos by Clara Juliette)

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