GINZA STREET
GINZA STREET
| Ginza is known as the biggest shopping thoroughfare in Japan. Major brands
open their main shops along the road. Other brand owners eagerly want to
open their shops in Ginza. Actually in japan, merchants who have headquaters
at Ginza are highly evaluated as top brands. The street was originally located next to the starting point of Tokaido, Japan's main road connecting Edo-Tokyo with Kyoto and Osaka. The name "Ginza" means the guild of silver makers because there was the guild office along the street in Tokugawa era. In 1870's the street was rebuilt into brick town as a showcase of Japan's modernization by Meiji Government. The modern brick buildings covered the street and many people gathered there to see the new townscapes. Since then Ginza became the finest shopping throughfare in Japan. Ginza area also was struck by the gerat earthquake in 1923 and set in fire by the great airraid by US in 1945. But the town was quickly reconstructed each time.Right now Ginza remains the most famous commercial center in Japan filled with expensive goods and shopping people. Some day, I walked along the street from Ginza 1-chome tube station southward to Shimbashi. The pictures below were taken at the time. |
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| The buildings near Ginza 1-chome tube station. The shops of Tiffany or
Cartier are shown there. Meidi-ya, is an old grossary which have sold for a long time the imported food products. |
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| A shop selling wedding dresses.(left) and a bag shop. (right) There are many little shops like these selling clothes or daily articles. |
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| Ginza 4-chome crossing. The crossing has been haert of Ginza street. Many people meet in front of Mitsukoshi, one of Japan's major department store, and head for shopping or entertainment. |
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| Wako building with a clock tower on top of it, (left) has been the symbol of Ginza. The building was built by Hattori Kinzo, the founder of a clock company, later known as Seiko. The building on the right is San-Ai |
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| Department stores in Ginza. Matsuya (upper), Matsuzakaya (below) | |
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| Near the Ginza 4-chome crossing, there are several jewel shops. Young couples come here to give each other the engaging rings. |
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| Lion Beer Hall has been the most famous beer hall in Ginza. Famous writers
gathered here to discuss the modern literature. I also got into the hall and ordered a bottle of draft beer and Omelets. The picture on the right is inside the beer hall. |
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| There are many fashionable buildings along the street. Shiseido (left) is a leading company of cosmetics. The picture on the right is an outlet shop of Tasaki Pearl. The women shown there look elegant. |
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| The brands abroad opened their shops in Ginza. | |
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| At the south end of the street, there spreads a newly developped area, Shiodome. Hiper tall buildings stand up high side by side. |
