Ginza is a shopping and dining district in Tokyo's Chuo ward, just south of Tokyo Station. It hosts flagship stores from Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci along the main Chuo-dori avenue, alongside long-established department stores. The Wako building, topped by the Hattori Clock Tower, marks the district's central intersection; the current structure dates from 1932, replacing the original 1894 building on the site. Kabuki-za, Tokyo's principal kabuki theatre, sits nearby. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Chuo-dori closes to vehicle traffic, turning the avenue into a pedestrian-only zone known as Hokosha Tengoku.
The name Ginza refers to a silver-coin mint established on the site in 1612. After an 1872 fire destroyed the area, it was rebuilt with brick buildings and wide streets as a model of Meiji-era modernization, and it evolved into Japan's most prominent upscale shopping district. Ginza today mixes historic landmarks, including the Wako department store's clock tower, with contemporary flagship boutiques from international luxury brands. It is also a dining destination: Sukiyabashi Jiro, located in the district, was the first sushi restaurant in the world to receive three Michelin stars. Kabuki-za theatre, rebuilt in 2013, stands at Ginza's eastern edge toward Tsukiji.