More photos of Ginza
Ginza
Ginza is the most upmarket area of Tokyo. During the 1980's "bubble years", its land price rose so much that it was said that the value of all the real estate in Ginza could buy the whole of California.
Ginza was the first area to modernize after the Meiji Restoration, featuring several Western-style building, which have since been destroyed (during the 1923 earthquake and WWII bombings).
Shopping
Ginza is reputedly the most expensive place to shop in Japan. Famous departments stores include Mitsukoshi, Matsuya, Matsuzakaya, Wako, as well as Yurakuchō's Seibu and Hankyu. The Wako building served as the headquarters for the American troops during the postwar occupation.
Most of the world's famous fashion designers are represented along Ginza's 5th Avenue. Ginza is also known for its very expensive clubs and hostess bars. Some of them sell wine for 100,000 yen per bottle.
On Sundays and national holidays, the Chūō-dōri is closed to traffic all the length of Ginza to prevent the numerous pedestrians from overflowing the sidewalk/pavement.
Yūrakuchō
Yūrakuchō is the area comprised between Ginza, Hibiya and Marunouchi.
Apart from being the name of a station and a subway line, Yurakuchō is famous for the Tokyo International Forum (東京国際フォーラム), a gigantic building built in the shape of a ship and hosting exhibitions, concerts and fashion shows, among others.
Another main reason to come to Yurakuchō is for shopping. The two largest electronic department stores in the Ginza area are located there: Bic Camera and Softmap.
Hibiya
Hibiya is located at the south-eastern corner of the Imperial Palace. It is famous for its park, where political speeches and demonstration against the government, which sometimes degenerated in violence, were held in the early 20th century. More peaceful manifestations still take place occasionally.
Nowadays Hibiya hosts the heaquarters of several big companies. The area has a few cinemas, shops and restaurants, in the extension of Ginza and Yurakuchō.
Hibiya Park
Opening date
Land area
Number of trees
Variety of plants
Address
Nearest station
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1 June 1904
161,636 m² / 161 ha / 40 acres
Tall trees : 4,278 / Shrubs : 4,074 / Lawn : 14,112
Plum trees, pines, gingkos, azaleas, flowering dogwood.
Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
2 min walk from Kasumigaseki (Marunouchi & Chiyoda lines), 8min walk from Yurakuchō (Yurakouchō & JR lines)
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