Ginza, Commercial district in Chūō-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Ginza is a commercial district in Chūō ward, Tokyo, stretching across several city blocks and hosting department stores, fashion houses and restaurants. Wide streets form a grid with intersections where shops of all price ranges line up, and pedestrians walk between glass-fronted buildings.
The area emerged from 1612 as the site of a government silver mint, which gave the district its name. After the 1923 earthquake, it was rebuilt with wider streets and multistory concrete buildings.
The area hosts seasonal illuminations and window displays that transform entire streets, especially during winter months when lights line the avenues. Many shops maintain a European-inspired aesthetic with imported goods, porcelain and crystal, reflecting influences from the postwar era.
The main thoroughfare Chuo Dori becomes a pedestrian zone on weekends, allowing visitors to move between buildings without traffic. Many shops open late in the morning and close after dark, with extended hours on weekends.
Several shops operate their own galleries on upper floors, where rotating exhibitions of contemporary art sit alongside retail spaces. Some buildings feature rooftop gardens that are freely accessible during daytime and offer views over surrounding rooftops.
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