# Ginza, Tokyo > Ginza is Tokyo's best-known upmarket shopping district: department stores, global flagship boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Its symbol is the 4-chome crossing with the Wako clock tower. On Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 17:00, Chuo-dori closes to cars. Strolling is free. It's 15 minutes on foot from Tokyo Station, with Ginza station right under the crossing. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ginza - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 53/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - Opening hours: Shops usually roughly 10:30–20:30; Hokoten Sat and Sun 12:00–17:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — it's a city district - Hokoten: Chuo-dori car-free — Sat and Sun, 12:00–17:00 - Landmark: The 4-chome crossing and Wako clock tower - Ginza Six: Shops 10:30–20:30, restaurants 11:00–23:00 - Tax-free: From 1.11.2026 — full price, tax refunded after departure - From Tokyo Station: ≈ 15 minutes on foot - Coordinates: 35.67136, 139.76562 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1612** — the year a silver-coin mint was founded here — hence the name (source: en.wikipedia) - **'Gin'** — means silver — Ginza is 'silver mint' (source: en.wikipedia) - **Wako** — the department store with the clock tower — the district's symbol (source: en.wikipedia) - **Hokoten** — 'pedestrian heaven' — weekends 12:00–17:00 (source: en.wikipedia) - **3 lines** — at Ginza station — Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya (source: en.wikipedia) - **Ginza Six** — the district's biggest mall, with a rooftop garden (source: ginza6.tokyo) - **Kabuki-za** — the main kabuki theatre — nearby at Higashi-ginza (source: en.wikipedia) - **≈ 15 min** — on foot from Tokyo Station (source: travel guides) ## What is Ginza? **Ginza** is Tokyo's best-known upmarket shopping district, in **Chuo** ward between Tokyo Station, Tsukiji and Shimbashi. The name means 'silver mint': a silver-coin mint was founded here in **1612**. Today Ginza means **department stores** such as Mitsukoshi and Matsuya, global flagship boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Its symbol is the **Ginza 4-chome** crossing with the clock tower of the **Wako** store. At weekends the main street, **Chuo-dori**, becomes pedestrian-only and Ginza turns into one big promenade. > **Hokoten and tax-free** On Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 17:00, Chuo-dori is closed to cars — this is 'Hokoten', 'pedestrian heaven': walk down the middle of the street and photograph the view. From 1 November 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping works by refund: you pay the full price in the shop and the 10% tax is refunded when you leave. Bring your passport; the minimum is ¥5,000 per shop per day. ## How the district works Ginza is laid out on a grid, so it's easy to find your way: the main axis is Chuo-dori and the **4-chome crossing** is the centre. Around it are department stores with food halls in their basements ('depachika'), flagship shops and cafés. **Ginza Six** is the district's biggest mall; according to its official site, shops open 10:30–20:30 and restaurants 11:00–23:00, and the roof has a free garden with city views. Stationery lovers should try **Itoya**, spread over several floors. Walking around Ginza is free. ## What to see and do - **The Ginza 4-chome crossing** and the Wako clock tower. - **Hokoten** — car-free Chuo-dori at weekends. - **Department stores** Mitsukoshi and Matsuya with food halls. - **Ginza Six** and its rooftop garden. - **Itoya** — stationery over several floors. - **Kabuki-za theatre** — a few minutes away. ## How to get to Ginza 1. **Ginza station** — Ginza, Marunouchi and Hibiya metro lines, with exits at the 4-chome crossing. 2. **From Tokyo Station** — about 15 minutes on foot to the south. 3. **From Yurakucho station** (JR) — about 5 minutes on foot. 4. **From the Imperial Palace** — 15–20 minutes on foot. 5. **From Haneda airport** — Keikyu to Higashi-ginza or Shimbashi, about 30–40 minutes. ## Weekday or weekend | | Weekday | Weekend | | --- | --- | --- | | Chuo-dori | Open to traffic | Car-free 12:00–17:00 | | Crowds | Fewer | Busy | | Shopping | Calmer | More atmosphere | | Street photos | From the pavement | From mid-street | ## How long do you need? Allow **1.5–2 hours** for a stroll around Ginza, or half a day with shopping. It's easy to come here after the **Imperial Palace** or **Tsukiji market**, and to see a show at the **Kabuki-za** in the evening. Ginza is especially lovely in the evening: shop windows and signs are lit, and upper-floor restaurants look out over the lights. ## Is Ginza worth visiting? Yes: even without buying anything it's a pleasure to walk — department-store architecture, window displays and the car-free street at weekends. The YesGo take: Ginza is expensive, and bargains are better found elsewhere. Come on a weekend for Hokoten, explore the department-store basements and go up to the Ginza Six garden. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Saturday or Sunday — for Hokoten - [ ] Passport — for tax-free - [ ] Time at the airport for the tax refund - [ ] The Ginza Six rooftop garden - [ ] A Kabuki-za ticket for the evening ## Tokyo shopping and markets: compare and choose Shopping districts and markets in Tokyo rated by YesGo. - [Ginza](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ginza) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Akihabara](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/akihabara) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free - [Senso-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free - [Takeshita Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/takeshita-street) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Tsukiji Outer Market](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tsukiji-outer-market) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Ameyoko](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ameyoko) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Toyosu Market](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/toyosu-market) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free ## Ginza and Tsukiji in a day Breakfast at Tsukiji market in the morning, a stroll through Ginza in the afternoon, and a show at the Kabuki-za in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Tsukiji Outer Market](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tsukiji-outer-market) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free 2. [Ginza](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ginza) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · free 3. [Kabuki-za](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/kabuki-za) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · single act ¥1,600–10,800 (Nov 2026) ## Good to know Ginza is a Tokyo district — not the restaurants, sushi bars and salons named after it in other cities. ## Tips - Hokoten: Sat and Sun, 12:00 to 17:00. - Explore the department-store basements for food. - The Ginza Six rooftop garden is free. - Carry your passport for tax-free. - In the evening: [Kabuki-za theatre](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/kabuki-za) nearby. ## Questions ### When is Ginza car-free? On Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 17:00, Chuo-dori is closed to traffic. ### How do I get to Ginza? Ginza station (Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya lines), or 15 minutes on foot from Tokyo Station. ### What is there to see in Ginza? The 4-chome crossing with the Wako tower, department stores, Ginza Six and its rooftop garden. ### Why is it called Ginza? A silver-coin mint was founded here in 1612. ### How does tax-free work? From 1 November 2026 — full price, 10% tax refunded when you leave; ¥5,000 minimum. ### What are the shop hours? Usually roughly 10:30 to 20:30; at Ginza Six that's per its official site. ### How long do you need? 1.5–2 hours, or half a day with shopping. ### What's nearby? Kabuki-za theatre, Tsukiji market and the Imperial Palace. ## How we checked The name and mint, Wako, Hokoten hours (Sat–Sun 12:00–17:00) and metro stations are from Wikipedia; other sources say Hokoten runs longer in summer — we give Wikipedia's hours. Ginza Six hours are from its official site. The free rooftop garden is from guides. Tax-free rules are from japan-guide.com. We don't give building dates or the district's history after the 17th century. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Ginza — name, mint, Wako, Hokoten, stations - Ginza Six official site (ginza6.tokyo) — shop and restaurant hours (checked 09.11.2026) - japan-guide.com and others — tax-free from 1 November 2026 - Wikidata Q746052 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.