Ginza blog — The fullest Ginza travel guide for first-timers

Unlike other crowded intersections in Japan, Ginza District offers visitors a trendy shopping experience and the opportunity to enjoy specialty dishes of Japanese cuisine. Located within five prominent areas of the capital, this destination is home to the most luxury brands and offers a significant contribution to the development of the city. So, is Ginza worth visiting, how to visit Ginza, what to do in Ginza and how to plan a budget trip to Ginza for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Ginza travel blog (Ginza blog) with the fullest Ginza travel guide (Ginza Tokyo guide, Ginza guide) from how to get to Ginza, best places to visit, what to eat as well as top things to do in Ginza to help you maximize your trip as follows!

When coming here, you will be overwhelmed by the lavish shopping centers and busy streets. To know more about this interesting destination, please continue reading for useful travel details in the following post!

Where is Ginza District located? (#ginza blog)

This district belongs to Chuo City, located near the Imperial Palace of Japan, and is considered one of the five most famous neighborhoods in Tokyo (along with Shinjuku, Asakusa, Shibuya, and Akihabara). While Asakusa is an old town with many traditional shrines, Ginza is a modern neighborhood home to a lot of bustling entertainment arcades, shopping malls, and restaurants in the capital. This place is also referred to as the classy “shopping mecca” and “entertainment paradise” for Tokyo tourists.

The exact location of the district center is at the intersection of Chuo Dori Avenue (in the North-South direction) and Harumi Dori (in the East-West direction). At this intersection, there are three famous shopping malls at the corners: Wako (where you find watches and jewelry), Mitsukoshi (where you shop for clothes and cosmetics), and Ginza Core. If you walk along Chuo Dori, you will be amazed by the number of shopping malls here. However, the two major shopping malls here are Matsuzakaya and Matsuya.

In addition, if you have a passion for luxury brands, this is truly a paradise with many high-end fashion stores such as Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and so on. There are also many showrooms of world-renowned electronic brands such as Samsung, Sony, Apple, etc. As the most famous shopping, dining, and entertainment areas of Tokyo all gather here, this attraction promises to bring you a wide range of interesting experiences.

Must-visit places (#ginza travel guide)

Lost in the middle of this lavish neighborhood, you will absolutely be surprised by high-rise buildings, cafes, luxury restaurants, and lively bars. In case you only have a few days to explore the place, you must definitely visit the recommended attractions below!

Ginza Six (#ginza blog)

Ginza Six is the district’s largest department store where visitors can admire works of art created by some of the most famous artists in Japan. This is also a shopping complex with stores selling cosmetics and fashion, furniture showrooms, bookstores, and restaurants with diverse cuisines.

Especially, at Ginza Six, there is a famous tea shop by Kyoto Tsujiri, offering authentic fresh ice cream treats. Among them is Tsujiri green tea ice cream which uses twice the amount of matcha than the regular recipe and is only sold at this branch. There is also an outdoor garden on the mall’s rooftop where you can see the Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower, and Mount Fuji from a distance. Many visitors also come here to breathe in the fresh air, which is really rare in densely populated cities.

Address: 6 Chome-10-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Hours: 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM (restaurants are open between 11 AM – 11 PM)

Tokyu Plaza Ginza (#ginza tokyo guide)

This mall began operation in 2016 with many stores selling items made in Japan. The 8th and 9th floor is home to Lotte Duty-Free Center which offers duty-free shops, and visitors can carry out tax refund procedures on the 7th floor. Thanks to this service, foreign tourists can rest assured when making purchases here. In addition, Tokyu Plaza has many other shopping and dining zones with beautiful panoramic views of Tokyo.

Address: 5 Chome-2-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Hours: 11 AM – 9 PM (restaurants are open until 11 PM)

Marronnier Gate

Marronnier Gate is a shopping complex consisting of three buildings with store sizes ranging all scales. Among them, the branch of the famous brand Uniqlo has five floors in one of the buildings. In addition, you can also enjoy famous Japanese dishes at restaurants in the shopping zone.

Address: 3 Chome-2-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Hours: 11 AM – 9 PM (restaurants are open until 11 PM)

Kabukiza Theater (#ginza travel blog)

The Kabukiza Drama Theater is an ideal place for you to enjoy performances of Kabuki, a traditional Japanese art form. With a long history, this location has been remodeled four times in 120 years due to the impact of natural disasters. Most recently, the theater was under construction and reopened in 2013. Today, it offers Kabuki plays almost every day with performances by top actors.

The usual ticket price for a play is between 4,000 and 22,000 yen, depending on reservation status and seating requirements. In addition, tickets for a single performance sold on the day right at the theater will cost about 2,000 yen each.

Address: 4 Chome-12-15 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

The Seiko Museum Ginza

This museum introduces visitors to the history of Seiko, Japan’s most famous watchmaker. Additionally, it is also home to interesting displays and interpretations of the history of watchmaking in general. The museum does not charge an entrance fee, but visitors should note that it is not open to the public on Mondays and public holidays.

Address: 4 Chome-3-13 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Hours: 10:30 AM – 6 PM/Monday: Closed

The most convenient transportation (#ginza tokyo guide)

Travel to Tokyo

Currently, there are many airlines operating routes from major cities to Tokyo international airports, so travelers can easily choose the flight that suits their schedule. For example, according to our Japanese travel experience, the Hanoi – Tokyo total travel time takes about 7 hours and it is longer if you depart from HCMC which is about 9 – 10 hours.

Fares vary depending on the seating class and airline you choose but usually fall in the range of USD 500 for economy class. Especially, in the peak tourist season, “sold-out” conditions or high ticket prices often occur. Therefore, you should book flight tickets to Tokyo about 1-2 months prior to your trip in order to receive attractive offers.

You can access Google Flights, Kayak or Skyscanner to hunt cheap tickets as well as best routes.

Travel to Ginza

With a developed tourism industry, the city of Tokyo has an advanced transport infrastructure with many forms of transportation that you can choose from. To get to Ginza District, visitors usually use three popular means of transportation: taxi, subway, and bus. If you take a taxi, you will easily get to the destination but the price is quite high. So, it is only suitable for tourists with a considerable budget.

To save on travel costs, it’s best to book a train ticket specifically for tourists in Tokyo. With this ticket, you can go to 250 stations of the Tokyo Metro and Tokyo Subway for up to three days. Departing from Tokyo Station, you can take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line for 170 yen and it only takes 2 minutes to get to Ginza Station. Alternatively, there are two other subway stations in the district, namely Ginza 1-Chome and Higashi Ginza, for your convenience.

Best hotels in Ginza (#ginza travel blog)

Referred to as Tokyo’s busiest shopping and entertainment district, this destination offers a variety of facilities. Therefore, you will definitely feel satisfied with the service quality of Tokyo’s hotels when staying here. Let’s take a look at the top hotels with us to find the best accommodation for your trip!

Imperial Hotel Tokyo (Agoda, Booking)

This hotel has a very favorable location in the center of the district, only 3 metro stations away and within a 5-minute walk. In addition, Imperial Hotel Tokyo is famous for its quality of service and has been known as a first-class hotel for over a century. The hotel has full-scale resort facilities such as a gym, indoor swimming pool, and spa, to allow guests the most complete experience.

The Peninsula Tokyo (Agoda, Booking)

This is a 5-star hotel located opposite the Royal Palace and only a few minutes walk from the district shopping center. The Peninsula Tokyo has landed in the top rankings of the world’s best hotels for four consecutive years by Forbes Travel Guide. In addition to good service quality, this hotel in Ginza District also offers a beautiful panoramic view of Tokyo.

Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel (Agoda, Booking)

With a prime location near the shopping, dining, and entertainment areas of the Ginza District, this hotel impresses visitors with its minimalist and modern design. The floor is completely paved with dark wood and on the walls are giant LED paintings, creating a unique and enigmatic space. Millennium Mitsui Garden Tokyo Hotel also offers comfortable and friendly rooms for couples and large families.

The Celestine Ginza (Agoda, Booking)

The Celestine Ginza Hotel attracts visitors with its futuristic and high-end resort amenities. The interior here is modern but equally elegant and luxurious. Each room is equipped with advanced electronic devices and necessary personal kits for guests. Additionally, you can have breakfast and dinner at the hotel’s on-site restaurant and bar.

Check out more top and best hotels in Ginza on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Foods to try when coming to Ginza

Diverse cuisine is always the top factor attracting a large number of tourists to the land of the rising sun. Below are some delicious dishes that you may try when exploring this top bustling shopping center:

• Sushi: This is a renowned dish embodying the bold features of Japanese cuisine. Fresh sushi is usually available at seafood stores for between JPY 100 and JPY 600.

• Ramen: This is a traditional noodle dish that you must try when traveling to Japan. The savory taste of original ingredients mixed with sweet broth gives you a unique culinary experience.

• Soba: Japanese people often eat this buckwheat noodle dish with seaweed, radish, and signature tsuyu sauce. You can enjoy hot or cold soba without altering the taste.

Coming to Ginza District, you will be impressed by high-rise buildings with unique architecture and lavish restaurants and diners. This tourist destination will absolutely bring you many invaluable memories in the land of the rising sun. Hopefully, our travel tips in this post would be useful for your trip. Don’t forget to book your flight tickets and hotel rooms in advance to enjoy countless attractive deals!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (BKK and DMK Airport Pick Up) for Japan (Unlimited Data)
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you finding more top things to do in Japan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.