Ginza is Tokyo's most famous upscale district, a grid of broad avenues lined with flagship department stores, luxury boutiques, and some of the city's best restaurants. It has been the centre of fashionable commerce since the Meiji era, when the area was rebuilt in brick by an English architect after a devastating fire in 1872. The Wako department store on the main Chuo-dori crossing, with its iconic clock tower, is one of the few pre-war buildings still standing.
On weekend afternoons, Chuo-dori is closed to traffic and becomes a pedestrian promenade — a good time to stroll and window-shop. The side streets hide smaller galleries, traditional craft shops, and excellent restaurants at every price level. Do not miss the Kabuki-za, the ornate theatre on Harumi-dori where you can watch traditional kabuki performances — single-act tickets are available if you do not want to commit to a full programme.
Ginza is also home to several worthwhile museums, including the Idemitsu Museum of Arts with its outstanding collection of East Asian ceramics and calligraphy, and a clutch of small commercial galleries in the backstreets.