Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

40  T OK Y O AREA B Y AREA

1 Street-by-Street: Ginza

Ginza
When Ieyasu moved his military capital to Edo in 1600,
Ginza was all swamp and marshland. Once filled in, the
area attracted tradesmen and merchants. The silver mint
that provided Ginza’s name, “silver place,” was built in 1612.
In 1872 fire destroyed everything and, with the Meiji
Restoration in full swing, the government ordered Irish
architect Thomas Waters to rebuild the area in red brick.
From then on it was the focus for Western influences and Shoppers at the landmark Ginza
all things modern, and is still one of Tokyo’s prime market Yon-chome crossing
centers. Tiny shops selling local crafts mix with galle ries,
department stores, and the ultra-modern Sony showroom R I –
for an unrivaled shopping experience. O I
B R
Hankyu and Seibu O O
department stores focus O T D
on fashions, with a mix S
of Japanese and
international
labels.

I
R
O
D
–
Yurakucho Center Building, housing Hankyu and Seibu K I
I
M
A
N
Gallery Center Building –
On the second floor of R I
H A R U M I – D O R I
this modern building O I
are a number of exclusive B O R
galleries showcasing O T O D I
Japanese and West ern S O R
art. On the fifth is an D
auction house, and the I –
sixth has the Ginza Ginza Noh I K
Yokyo Hall, with exhibits M
by artists working in Theater N A
different media. R I
O
D
N –
M I Y U K I – D O R I
A
Namiki-Dori and U R
Chuo-Dori are now Z
called “Brand Street” S U
with boutiques
such as Gucci, Dior, The Asahi
Louis Vuitton, and Building contains
Cartier. a traditional
kimono shop,
silversmiths, and
several boutiques.
Key
Sony Showroom
Sony’s latest technology and electronic gadgets are on Suggested walk route
display on several floors here, and many can be tried out. Train line
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