Where to Eat, Drink, Sleep- and Shop – in Ginza

Ginza is one of the most centrally located districts in Tokyo. Famous for its shops, it’s also a fun place to wander around for other reasons—if you know where to go. And we do. So, whether you’re thinking of staying in Ginza or are just visiting for the day, here’s our guide to where to eat, drink, sleep, and shop in Ginza.

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Where is Ginza Located?

It’s on the east side of Tokyo, a short distance from Tokyo Station.

This makes it very convenient if you’re coming into Tokyo from the airport via the Narita Express, or on the bullet train from Kyoto or Osaka, but also handy if you’re heading to another destination like Kyoto or Osaka by train when you leave.

Ginza is also easily reached from Haneda as there’s a direct train to Higashi-Ginza.

It’s also a great middle-ground for those visiting Tokyo Disney who prefer to stay in town, as it’s only a short train ride from the parks but still in the middle of buzzing Tokyo.

5 Sights Not To Miss

Tsukiji Market

While it’s not in the main shopping district, this still falls into the Ginza neighbourhood. While the small food stalls selling daily items to locals that I used to love wandering around here are being crowded out by places feeding tourists, it’s still a good place to wander if you go just before 9 am (I’d say go much earlier, but the market asks tourists not to go before then).

It’s also home to an interesting shrine called Namiyoke Inari, which is dedicated to the fish served in nearby restaurants.

Personally, if it fits your plans, I think Toyosu’s restaurant area is now a more pleasant place to grab a sushi breakfast, as the crowds at Tsukiji can be frustrating. But if you’re a foodie, I’d still add Tsukiji to your list, particularly if you take a market tour that will take you into those smaller shops that have been selling their items for years.

Art Aquarium

Displays of ornate fish tanks as art are a trend across Japan, but this was one of the first places to have them.

The fish are displayed in different tank shapes with lighting and other effects. It is beautiful to look at and usually not that crowded—well, for the people, anyway. Some say that the fish tanks are a bit overfull, so bear that in mind when deciding to visit.

The Aquarium is located on floors 8 and 9 of the Mitsukoshi New Building. Note – you must use a down escalator to get there, but there is a route via a lift if you ask.

You don’t have to book in advance, but, if you’d like to, you can buy your tickets here. Use code JAPLANEASEKLOOK at check out and you might get a discount.

The Mitsukoshi Lion

Don’t miss the Mitsukoshi Lion as you enter the building. He’s modelled on the ones at Trafalgar Square in London—even down to the weird paws (the sculptor was using a dead lion as his model, but he wasn’t that speedy, and the feet, erm, decomposed before it got to them, so they are modelled on cat’s paws!).

Despite this slightly weird fact, touching the lion’s paws is said to be lucky, which is why they are gold and the rest of him is black.

The best thing about this lion, over the Trafalgar Squares ones, though, is that he’s small enough to dress up in outfits. I’ve seen him wearing fireman’s hats and other garb to publicise local initiatives – sadly, he was naked the day I went.

There are a lot of cool things in the Mitsokushi Building, including roof shrines, sculptures, and other design touches. If you have time to explore, take a look at the list here to help you find them.

Kabukiza Theatre

If you want to catch a kabuki play in Japan this is one of the more tourist-friendly venues. It’s possible to buy tickets just for one act of a play, and they offer a simplified audio guide for some performances – and a written synopsis in the programme to explain what’s going on.

See the programme and ticket pricing on the Kabuki Japan website.

RELATED READ: If you’re going to Nagoya, you might also want to check out the Kabuki cafe there – they do kabuki-style versions of plays like Macbeth, so you’ll know what’s going on even without a description. Details are in our guide to Nagoya’s Endo-ji area where you find the cafe.

Hit the Fun Shops

Ginza is known as Tokyo’s most expensive shopping district, but even if you’re not dropping thousands on a designer bag, wandering around the shops here is a good idea just for the experience.

Some must-see shops and malls around here include Itoya – this is a stationary lover’s heaven. Ginza Six – this shopping mall contains the most beautiful branch of Tsutaya Books, a dangerous amount of expensive handbags, a fantastic food hall (Japanese department store food halls are incredible, and you need to visit at least one on your trip), but, is also famous for its art displays in the atrium – right now and until June 2025 it’s home to Kenji Yanobe’s giant space cats.

Also, head inside the Nissen showroom – but not for the cars, for the cafe above it that’ll print your face on your coffee and Ginza Natsuno – home to over 2000 sets of chopsticks.

The main thoroughfares are full of large malls and international designer names, but around the backstreets you’ll also find bonsai shops, kimono shops and small independent artists to check out.

Where to Eat in Ginza

With its upscale image, it’s no surprise that you’ll find many high-end restaurants and international cuisine in Ginza. However, not every restaurant here comes with a huge price tag. Some gems are hiding in the backstreets.

American

If you’re here at lunchtime, you might want to head to this place that’s (in)famous for its giant egg sandwiches. You might already know that Japan’s convenience store egg sandwiches have a bit of a cult following, but this place makes them on steroids.

It’s where Eugene Levy bought his egg sandwich in The Reluctant Traveler. See more about the locations he visited in our guide to Eugene Levy’s Tokyo.

Tempura Abe

If you’re looking for one of Tokyo’s budget Michelin-rated meals, come here at lunchtime. A set containing their feather-light tempura can cost as little as Y1000 – you’ll pay 3-4 times that for dinner. They do have an English menu.

They open at 11:30 a.m., and I’d suggest getting here a little before then to beat the queue. If you’re travelling solo, try for a seat at the bar, as each piece of tempura is served as soon as it comes out of the fryer.

If you want to visit for dinner, you’ll need a reservation. You can make them easily via ByFood.

Chuka Soba Ginza Hachigo

This famous ramen shop is often mentioned in lists of recommended restaurants in Ginza. It’s famous for its incredibly light broth. However, getting a table isn’t as simple as wandering in—you must either snag an online reservation or queue – early!

The signs on the door say that they will seat as many people without reservations as possible from 11 a.m., but from 12.30, those with reservations are given priority.

Also. note that they don’t open every day. They post their monthly opening hours outside the shop or on their website, so check their calendar before rocking up.

Moonflower Segaya

If you want to push the boat out, look at this.

If you watched the TV show The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, this was the restaurant that he and Cyber Bunny went to with the art projections on the ceiling. It’s run by the art group teamLab and is very beautiful. Only eight people a day can dine in the special room dedicated to the art so reservations are essential.

Kanadaya

If Moonflower Segaya busts the budget but you’re looking for somewhere else that’ll impress them all on the ‘gram, then head to this daifuku ‘dessert buffet’, where the dishes almost seem to float.

It’s not a sit-down cafe; you must stand and eat your fruit-topped mochi at the counter, but they are pretty.

They’re open from 11 to 8 – and each piece will cost you about the same as a plate of tempura, but again – they’re pretty!

Where to Drink in Ginza

When I was writing the post on the best places to stay in Tokyo, I said that I’d never stayed in Ginza before because I didn’t think there was much to do in the evening – so, that was stupid!

Not only is it stumbling distance from the salaryman haven of Shimbashi, which is teaming with bars, and the fantastic yakitori-filled izakaya under the rail tracks at Yurachoko, but I discovered on my last trip that Ginza has a few decent drinking dens of its own – from cheap and cheerful to cocktails bars you won’t forget. Here are four to try…

Ginza 300

The 300 stands for your bar bill, as most drinks and snacks here cost just 300 yen (plus 10% tax). It’s a standing bar, so there is no resting your tired feet, but as I discovered on a previous trip, these are the best places to chat with people. It’s open from 4.30 pm seven days a week.

Before you start thinking this is a good way to get rid of all those coins you’ve collected, note you actually buy tickets and swap those for drinks and snacks. There’s a minimum ‘buy-in’ of three tickets per person, but during happy hour, the pricier drinks can be bought for just one ticket.

Find their two Ginza locations here.

Lion Ginza 7

This is where we spent a happy evening drinking in Ginza. It’s done out like a mural-filled Bavarian beer hall and serves steins and sausages by the bucketload.

While that might not sound very Japanese, the fact that you’re surrounded by office workers letting off steam for the evening most definitely is. It’s huge, and the turnover is pretty quick, so you’ll never have to wait long for a table – we arrived at 5.30pm on a Friday and got seated immediately.

Orchard Ginza

This is fun. There’s no menu at Orchard Ginza—just a fruit bowl that you point at to choose the flavour of your drink and how strong you want it. The barman will then whip up a concoction that could be served in anything from a baby’s bottle to a bathtub with bubbles.

Tir an Nog

Designed by the same man who created the stunning Iron Fairies bars in Southeast Asia (which was actually the bar’s original name), this bar is full of red velvet, tiny butterflies, and fairies everywhere.

And if the bar’s over-the-top design didn’t grab my attention, the ingredients of the Pink Tako cocktail did: Cranberry-infused Gin, Cranberry Cordial, Yuzu Juice, Egg White, and squid—erm, say what now!

I went for the non-alcoholic Scarlett though—just for the wow factor. Look at it; it’s ridiculously fabulous!

The drinks are reasonably priced for cocktails in a posh bar, my non-alcoholic one cost as much as one with booze, but note that there is a 1000 yen per person seating fee to add to the bill. It’s also open during the day and was surprisingly busy when I went in there after lunch.

You can also reserve via their website.

Where to Stay

There are some very expensive places to stay in Ginza, but it’s not all suites and five-star hotels. You’ll find options for all price ranges. Some places you might want to check out include…

Muji Hotel Ginza

If you like Japanese minimalism, this 4-star hotel room will be your happy place. It’s all sleek wooden floors and crisp white sheets—and it’s in a fantastic location for exploring Ginza. Rooms range from snug singles to those with a mezzanine, so everyone gets some space.

Grand Bach Ginza

If you’re looking for something a bit more ‘Ginza’ where people greet you as you come out of the elevator, take a look at the Grand Bach. It’s got a bit more personality than many other four-star hotels – the number one comment on the reviews is how quiet it is despite its central location.

Karaksa Hotel Premier Ginza

Loved for it’s new clean rooms, people praise how comfortable the bed is here. Having stayed in a few Japanese hotels that felt like sleeping on a plank, that’s a big bonus!

Tips for Exploring Ginza

At the weekends, the main road in Ginza is closed to traffic, which allows more space for shopping and the chance to sit in the middle of it and take handy photos (or is that just me?).

It’s quite an upscale area, and while anything will go during the day, if you want to drink and dine here in the evening, especially in the flashier bars or restaurants, you might want to smarten up the holiday outfit a bit. Most other people will be in smart casual business wear.

If you do decide to dine in Ginza, make sure you check the menu first. I’ve heard tales of people wandering into a nice-looking restaurant and getting quite a shocking bill at the end because they didn’t check the price carefully. I say again, this is upscale Tokyo—and while there are cheap places around, there are also some eye-wateringly expensive ones. Make sure you know which you’re in!

The air conditioning here can be icy! It makes for a lovely break during the heat of Tokyo’s summer, even in June, which is only starting to get humid, I was nipping into shops to get a break from the humidity, but if you’re planning on doing a lot of shopping, you might want to bring a light cover-up so you don’t freeze!

So, that’s my quick guide to Ginza. I hope it helped you find some fun things to do here. This area has a lot more than it might seem from its flashy, designer exterior.

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