Named after a silver-coin mint, this district has a long association with affluence. Today it’s where you’ll find some of Japan’s most upmarket labels, restaurants and galleries.

Experience the lifestyle of Tokyo’s rich and famous when you visit Ginza, the city’s epicentre of luxury. High-end department stores and boutiques display lavish collections of leading brands in fashion and cosmetics, while tech companies show off special features in their latest devices. Join Tokyo’s big spenders and explore the gleaming shop displays. Relax in a café and people-watch as some of the city’s fashionistas stroll by.

Ginza’s connection with wealth dates back to the Edo period, when a silver-coin mint was established here. The mint ran between 1612 and the 1800s, during which time the district earned renown for its lavish Western-style promenades and Georgian brick buildings. Stroll down the central Chuō Dori street to see flagship stores of prominent western fashion labels and luxury goods. Check out Ginza Wako, a 1930s-era building with a tall clock tower that symbolizes the district’s dalliance with western architecture. You’ll find a collection of upmarket stores inside.

Visit one of the immense shopping complexes in Ginza for diverse retailers and chic modern architecture. Ginza Six has stores dedicated to art, books and design, as well as a pretty rooftop garden. Tokyu Plaza Ginza offers tax-free shopping to tourists, while Itoya is a one-stop shop for art supplies and stationery. Peruse the latest in electronics at Ginza Place, which has showrooms for technology labels.

Take a break from shopping and discover the reconstructed glory of Kabuki-za Theatre, a traditional-style kabuki venue with performances nearly every day. The district is also infamous for serving some of Japan’s most expensive coffees, which are available at specialty coffeehouses. A huge array of options can be found at the Yurakucho Gado-shita dining district, which stretches below the raised train tracks that extend along the Yamanote Line from Yarakucho Station.

Ginza is a district located in Chuō, Tokyo. It can be easily reached via train and subway. A popular time to visit is on weekends between noon and early evening, when the district’s main street is closed to road traffic. Enjoy walking down the pedestrianized promenade at your own pace. The district is free to visit and most stores are open daily.