Two-Minute Tour: Ginza, Tokyo

The Numbers
Ginza is steeped in centuries of history. From 1612 to 1800, the district was home to a silver coin mint, from which it derived the origin of its name, “silver mint” in Japanese. Following the 1923 Kanto Earthquake, Ginza was rebuilt and transformed into Tokyo’s premier shopping and entertainment hub. Located near the heart of central Tokyo, the Ginza district today spans approximately 1.5 miles and, though compact, is renowned for its shopping complexes, global luxury brands and fine dining. Since real estate in Ginza is primarily focused on business and retail development, there are relatively few residential buildings in the district, with only around 3500 permanent residents.

THE PULSE
As the city’s leading district for luxury shopping, dining and high-end experiences, Ginza draws both global tourists and local connoisseurs alike. However, among the modern storefronts, Ginza still offers Japanese culture, such as Kabukiza Theatre, founded in 1889 and known for its traditional kabuki drama. The district is further enriched by its art institutions, including Shiseido Gallery, the Ginza Graphic Gallery and the Art Aquarium Museum, as well as the Tsukiji Outer Market, offering fresh seafood and produce. Ginza Station, the fourth-busiest in Tokyo, allows for easy transportation from Ginza to other Tokyo districts, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi.

THE HOT SPOTS
Ginza continues to welcome flagship concepts from global retailers as it continually expands. Just a block from Ginza’s central hub is Ginza Six is the district’s largest shopping complex, spanning 13 floors and over 1.6 million square feet. Designed by Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi, Ginza Six offers more than 200 stores (including international brands such as Dior, Valentino and Fendi alongside Japanese retailers), fine dining restaurants, a traditional Japanese theater and a rooftop garden.

Chuo Dori (which is closed to cars on weekends and holidays from noon until evening) remains the premier retail street in Ginza, and it continues to expand with one of its most recent tenants being Tiffany & Co. (New York), which opened its largest Asia flagship on the street in July. Designed by Jun Aoki with interiors by Architect Peter Marino, the building features a gleaming glass exterior that shifts from Tiffany Blue to a soft white. The interior is part luxury retail and part museum where visitors encounter interactive displays, a curated archive and more than 50 pieces of contemporary art.

Nearby, Swiss knife and cutlery retailer Victorinox (Ibach, Switzerland) relaunched its Ginza flagship earlier this year with a redesigned space by Dalziel & Pow (London). The storefront echoes the sleek silhouette of the Swiss Army Knife and, inside, a personalization table lets visitors assemble custom knives, surrounded by product stories and heritage design cues. “We knew when approaching the design for the store façade that we needed to create a striking destination that visually signaled the change within the store, while placing it as a beacon in the iconic shopping and cultural hub,” says Matt Avery, Associate Creative Director, Global Strategy and Design Studio, Dalziel & Pow.

OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Ginza’s prestige comes at a price: The average cost of land in the district is around $1134 per square foot, according to Cushman & Wakefield (Chicago), making it the most expensive in the country. This real estate reality creates challenges for new retail entrants, as available space is scarce and competition is fierce. However, with a trend toward experiential design and destination retail, brands that can tell immersive stories continue to find success.

PHOTO GALLERY (14 IMAGES)

PHOTOS: TIFFANY & CO.