10 Epic Things to See & Do in Ginza on Your Tokyo Adventure

Not sure where to start your Tokyo adventure? Start your visit by exploring all the fun things to do in Ginza!

Ever since my first visit to Tokyo over a decade ago, Ginza has been one of my favorite areas to roam. Whenever I stroll through the buzzing streets of Tokyo’s most famous shopping & entertainment district, I discover everything from upmarket fashion boutiques to Michelin-starred restaurants representing the pinnacle of Tokyo fine dining.

Dig beyond Ginza’s glitzy surface and there’s plenty more to experience, too. Crouched in dimly lit narrow alleyways hide traditional izakaya (Japanese pubs), hole-in-the-wall soba or ramen joints, and small souvenir shops. Everything visitors would expect from Japan’s capital is here. And in spades.

Ready to plan your visit to this fascinating area? Plan the ultimate adventure with this complete guide to our favorite places to visit in Ginza!

My tips for what to see & do in Ginza

Like in most of Tokyo, I never expect just one thing while exploring Ginza. At first glance, it’s easy to see that the neighborhood’s trendy reputation isn’t unfounded. But there’s far more to Ginza than its modish façade lets on.

Besides unloading yen on the latest fashions, Ginza is, in my opinion, one of the coolest areas to stay in Tokyo. It’s also one of the city’s premier places to eat, with more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the city.

And even if restaurants like Ginza Kojyu or Sushi Yoshitake are out of your budget, it’s just as easy to find a satisfying back-alley soba or ramen joint here that’ll tickle our tastebuds as well as any in Japan.

Ginza Crossing (4-chome)

The first time I strolled through Ginza Crossing didn’t elicit the same claustrophobic fears as Shibuya’s (more) famous crosswalk. But this intersection, also known as Ginza 4-chome, still gets the heart pumping with its unmistakable urban energy.

These crossroads are located at the intersection of Harumi-dori and Chuo-dori. Around Ginza Crossing, we can find some of the neighborhood’s most iconic buildings.

With its Seiko clock, the Wako Department Store is the area’s most distinctive landmark. Nearby, we can also shop till we drop at the world-renowned Ginza Mitsukoshi.

Ginza Crossing is a brilliant introduction to the area and the perfect place to get your bearings. Start your day here with a shopping trip. Or enjoy a coffee and a tasty Japanese lunch nearby while soaking in the sights.

Even better? I’d recommend visiting Ginza Crossing at night when the bright lights and neon dazzle. (It’s my own favorite time to explore the area!)

Getting there: Take the Tokyo metro to Ginza Station. Exit to street level through any of the A exits. It’ll land you somewhere along the corner, either on Chuo-dori Street or Harumi-dori Street.

Kabuki-za Theatre

Huge fan of Japanese culture? Catching a performance at the Kabuki-za Theatre is a must! This performing arts centre is the most famous of its kind in Japan, attracting a whopping 0.9 million visitors per year. 

Attending a kabuki performance isn’t quite like watching your average play. The art of kabuki is uniquely Japanese. And it’s far more dramatic and exaggerated than most of us are used to!

The stories presented at Kabuki-za Theatre are often based on historic events. It’s hard to label them as anything but epic.

My guess is that 4 to 5 hours of Japanese dramatics is too much for most travelers. Fortunately, the theater offers special reduced-fare tickets to tourists. They’ll allow you to immerse yourself in the art of kabuki for a single act. (And, at least in my opinion, it’s more than long enough to get your first taste.)

Getting there: Take the Tokyo metro to Higashi-ginza Station. Exit 3 will put you right at the theatre.

Tsukiji Fish Market

Located just outside of Ginza proper, Tsukiji Fish Market is one of those must-see Tokyo attractions I don’t think you should miss. Whether you’ve got one or two days in Tokyo or a week, this world-famous first market needs to be on your radar.

The Tsukuji Fish Market was once famous for its daily tuna auction. Here, the day’s biggest catches were hocked off to the highest bidder in a bustling and chaotic frenzy.

Since 2018, though, the tuna auction has been moved to a new site in Toyosu and renamed Toyosu Market. (After visiting the new market on my last trip to Tokyo, I’d say it isn’t quite as interesting as the original.)

Even with the auction relocated, I still think getting the Tsukiji experience is one of the must-do activities in Ginza.

(And, now, without the sacrifice it once took.)

No longer will you need to set your alarm clock for the wee morning hours and drag yourself out of bed to queue up for the daily tuna auction.

Today, we can wake up later and get in on the Tsukiji Outer Market—without the hassle of the early-morning queue. (And still be left with tons of time to push through an epic day in Tokyo!)

The Tsukiji Outer Market stalls sell everything from fresh and dried seafood to kitchen utensils. In my opinion, it’s still one of the most interesting and photogenic places among Ginza’s top tourist attractions.

Don’t miss the chance to top off your visit to Tsukiji Fish Market with a delicious sushi breakfast. The sushi is among the freshest I’ve ever eaten, brought directly every morning from the auction at Toyosu.

Although it may not sound like the most appetizing way to start your day, I’d say go for it. It might be some of the most surprisingly delicious sushi you’ll ever enjoy!

Getting there: Find your way to Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo Line. From here, it’s less than ten minutes to the heart of the market.

Itōya Stationery Store

You’ve probably heard about Japan’s obsession with stationery. Watch it in action at Itōya Stationery Store. Itōya rises up a whopping nine floors. It features everything we’d expect from a stationery shop in Japan, from pens and notebooks to postcards and folders.

The shop goes well beyond that, though.

While exploring Itōya Stationery Store, I also spotted a variety of interesting objects to decorate the home and office. I even saw that they host art classes for budding artists.

For a unique souvenir, I’d suggest heading up to the business centre. Here, you can create a custom notebook, choosing your own paper and cover stock.

Getting there: From Ginza Station, take Exit A8 in front of Mitsukoshi Ginza. Turn right and walk two blocks northeast on Chuo-dori.

Ginza Mitsukoshi

You’ll need to stash more than a few yen away if you want to shop at Ginza Mitsukoshi. Along with Wako across the street, Mitsukoshi Ginza is one of the most famous and exclusive department stores in Japan. For shopaholics, dumping some yen here is a must!

With five of the seven main floors dedicated to women’s fashion, the store’s focus is obvious. Perhaps no other single stop in Ginza supplies the streets of Tokyo with so much style.

Not into clothing and household items? Ginza Mitsukoshi delights foodies on its 11th and 12th floors with a barrage of eating options.

Among the gourmet restaurants, every aspect of popular Japanese cuisine is covered. Among its all the favorites I spotted here were sushi, teppanyaki, okonomiyaki, soba, udon, ramen, and tempura. There’s also a handful of international choices like Korean, Italian, Spanish, and French.

Getting there: The store lies directly in front of the A8 exit of Ginza Station.

Matsuya Ginza

Like Mitsukoshi, serious shoppers will find their fashion heaven at Matsuya Ginza. The trendy and upscale Matsuya department store features all the latest styles, with both famous international and Japanese designers well represented. Drop your yen here on everything from Dior and Louis Vuitton to issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto.

And for tourists, it couldn’t get much better. Matsuya Ginza also offers services to make the lives of foreign shoppers easier. Check out their international shipping, duty-free, and foreign exchange counters to save money. (And space in your luggage.)

Getting there: The Matsuya department store is conveniently situated near the A12 and A13 exits of Ginza Station.

Yurakucho

Need a break from the glitz and glamour of Ginza? Escape the district’s consumerist bubble at the atmospheric restaurant district of Yurakucho.

When I first heard about this area while planning my first trip to Tokyo, I knew it was a place I needed to check out. And it didn’t disappoint.

Whereas nearby Ginza flaunts high style, Yurakucho holds fast to the old Tokyo vibe. To see it in action, we need to look to the dimly lit alleyways below the train tracks leading to Tokyo Station.

Huddle into the underpass and treat yourself to some yakitori. Yakitori is the district’s signature charcoal-grilled skewers. It’s one of the tastiest foods in Tokyo, drawing in office workers of Tokyo for after-work snacks and biiru.

To get better acquainted with Yurakucho’s yakitori scene, I’d recommend hopping on a Tokyo After Dark Food Tour. This 3.5-hour culinary adventure also visits Depachika to learn about wagashi (Japanese sweets) and Monja Street in Tsukishima for a taste of monjayaki, Tokyo’s own answer to Osaka’s okonomiyaki savoury pancakes.

Getting to Yurakucho: The restaurants of Yurakucho sit below Yurakucho Station. From Ginza Station, it’s about a 5-minute walk here via Harumi-dori.

Chuo-dori

Walking down Chuo-dori in Ginza is a retail therapy dream come true. Along this renowned street lies Tokyo’s most prestigious shopping. Here, we can shop at Japanese department stores like Mitsukoshi and Matsuya. There’s also a vast selection of international fashion boutiques like Dior and Prada.

The best time to join the Chuo-dori fun is on the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the street closes off to vehicles. In this weekly Pedestrians’ Paradise, you’ll jostle for elbow room with families and well-to-do shoppers. Enjoy the amusing street performances that give Chuo-dori a lively atmosphere.

Getting there: Chuo-dori’s main two-kilometre drag stretches from Shimbashi Station in the south of Ginza to Kyobashi Station in the north. Ginza Station lies at almost the halfway mark.

Sukiyabashi Jiro

One of the most famous restaurants in Tokyo, Sukiyabashi Jiro holds a coveted three Michelin stars for its delectable sushi. When celebrities visit Japan, they beeline to Sukiyabashi Jiro. It’s thanks, no doubt, to the popular 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

What makes Sukiyabashi Jiro so popular in Tokyo isn’t the atmosphere but the quality of the food. (In fact, the service is often brusque and a tad uninviting for foreigners.)

Chef Jiro and his team meticulously prepare each piece of nigiri in the set menu. And they expect you to keep up with their quickened pace and eat it as fresh as possible.

Want to get the full Sukiyabashi Jiro experience? It’s not going to be easy.

Reservations for this popular Ginza restaurant aren’t easy to come by at the best of times.

Foreigners will have their best chance to eat here by staying at a top luxury hotel. Consider The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, or Park Hyatt Tokyo. Their concierge services should be able to hook you up.

Getting there: The restaurant lies at Sukiyabashi Crossing. Exits C5 and C6 of Ginza Station are closest to the entrance.

Hamarikyu Gardens

Hamarikyu Gardens is one of the most beautiful natural escapes in Tokyo. On my second visit to Tokyo, I loved carving out time to visit this relaxing urban oasis and whisk myself away from the bustle of the streets of Ginza and Shiodome.

This park is unique, drawing water from Tokyo Bay and shifting with the tide. It creates an ever-changing scene.

The saltwater pond at Hamarikyu Gardens also features a number of saltwater species, including eels. Not exactly the type of marine life I’d expect to find at a park in the middle of Tokyo!

Among my favorite activities at Hamarikyu Gardens is to relax among the beautiful scenery and enjoy a matcha tea at the teahouse perched in the middle of the pond.

Getting there: From Shimbashi Station at the southern fringes of Ginza, it’s about 10 to 15 minutes to Hamarikyu Gardens. Shiodome Station is closer, only 5 to 10 minutes away on foot.

Lupin

If Hemingway spent time in Ginza, Lupin would totally be the kind of bar he’d hang out in. This Tokyo institution has welcomed guests since 1928. It’s served fine whiskies and cocktails to generations of Japanese writers and intellectuals.

In a city as expensive as Tokyo, drinking at a bar with such historical prestige won’t come cheap. Although the drinks at Lupin might be pricier than at other spots in the area, the laid-back and quiet atmosphere is worth it. It’s the perfect storm for launching into serious intellectual discussions with newfound friends.

Getting there: From Exit B3 of Ginza Station, it’s a short 2-3 minute walk to Lupin.

Where to stay for sightseeing

Ginza is one of our favorite areas to stay in Tokyo, but, unfortunately for travelers, its hotels don’t come cheap. Most of the best hotels in Ginza fall between the mid-range and luxury. Get your search started with our top accommodation picks in the area…