Ginza – Tokyo’s Most Famous Shopping District

[Key]

Ginza (銀座) is today’s most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district in Tokyo. The street features high class department stores, restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, night clubs and cafes.One square meter of land in Ginza’s center is worth over ten million yen ($100,000), making it one of the most expensive real estate in Japan.

 

BVLGARI in Ginza

 

A shiny, sophisticated place today, Ginza has a long history behind. In the Edo period, Ginza was a common, traditional Japanese street with narrow streets and wooden buildings.

 

The first big change in Ginza took place in 1872, when the wooden buildings were destroyed by a huge fire. To prevent a reoccurrence, the traditional constructions were replaced by brick, Georgian style buildings, designed by a British architect, the street was widened and they created sidewalks.

 

In 1923 disaster struck Ginza street again, when the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed a big part of Tokyo. 9 years after the earthquake, in 1932, the clock tower Wako was built, which became the symbol of Ginza. Today, inside the Wako building, jewelry and luxury items are sold.

 

Wako in Ginza

 

Once again, many buildings disappeared in the area after the WWII’s bombings,so, a big number of today’s Ginza landmarks were built after 1960.

 

Swarovski in Ginza

 

Nowadays, Ginza has become the place where all the important brand names in fashion and cosmetics have a presence and where it will cost you $10 for a simple cup of coffee.

 

 

Photo credits: tokyofashion

[yaoifictionlove]

All that luxury... I have to visit this street!

[Dayu]

I don't like city much

Please Register/ Sign In, in order to see the links.