Outline of Ginza Mitsukoshi
Ginza Mitsukoshi is one of the oldest department stores in Japan. It opened in 1930 and expanded and reopened in 2010. Originally founded in 1673 as the kimono store Echigoya, it was declared Japan's first department store in 1904. This long history indicates that Ginza Mitsukoshi has served as a cultural and commercial center rooted in the community.
Ginza Mitsukoshi boasts an expansive sales floor that spans from the third basement floor to the 12th floor above ground. This large department store offers visitors a diverse shopping experience with a wide range of products, including fashion, cosmetics, and food.
Ginza Mitsukoshi is widely known as a landmark in Ginza. It is a must-see destination for visitors, offering high-quality, attractive merchandise ranging from fashion to food products. In particular, its product lineup, which reflects the latest trends, is popular among both domestic and international visitors.
A Japanese lion statue stands proudly at the main entrance of Ginza Mitsukoshi. This lion statue is a well-known symbol of Ginza Mitsukoshi and a photo spot for visitors. Occasionally, it changes its costume to match local events, much to the delight of visitors.
All Ginza Mitsukoshi buildings are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and restaurants are open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. These hours provide flexible options for shopping and dining and create a convenient environment for visitors.
History and Development
The history of Ginza Mitsukoshi dates back to 1673. That year, Takatoshi Mitsui opened the kimono store Echigoya in Edo Honmachi. Echigoya revolutionized the commercial style of the time and gave the general public access to kimono. The store's name dates back to the time of Takatoshi's grandfather and was popularly known as "Echigo-ya," a name that carried the traces of a samurai warrior. This way, Ginza Mitsukoshi has played an important role in Japan's commercial history.
In 1930, Ginza Mitsukoshi opened at the 4-chome intersection in the heart of Ginza. With this opening, Ginza Mitsukoshi established itself as a landmark in Tokyo and a center of fashion and food culture. Ginza Mitsukoshi continues to offer new lifestyles to visitors by pursuing "newness in goods" and "richness in spirit.
2010 Ginza Mitsukoshi expanded its floor space, increasing its sales floor area by 1.5 times. This created expansive floor space from the third basement to the 12th floor above ground, strengthening its position as the largest department store in the Ginza/Yurakucho district. The new store is integrated with the existing store and can offer an even greater variety of products.
In 1904, Mitsukoshi became the first company in Japan to declare itself a "department store" and establish its department store format. With this declaration, Mitsukoshi evolved from a mere kimono store to a department store offering various products. In doing so, Mitsukoshi set a new standard in the Japanese commercial world and significantly impacted the development of department stores from then on.
Facilities and Floor Guide
Ginza Mitsukoshi has a wide variety of stores spread over its vast floor space, from the third basement floor to the 12th floor above ground. In particular, this department store, the largest in the Ginza/Yurakucho area, offers visitors a diverse shopping experience, including fashion, cosmetics, food, and restaurants. Each floor features carefully selected brands and specialty stores, offering a shopping experience and a cultural one.
The cosmetics floor on the basement level is an attractive space for visitors, with products that transcend brand boundaries. Here, expert staff members provide skin diagnosis services and suggest products suited to individual skin types. This service is an extremely valuable experience, especially for beauty-conscious customers.
On the food floor in B2, "Desserte" is particularly popular. This store offers visitors a new taste experience with an exquisite combination of tea and sweets. The sweets, made with high-quality ingredients, are beautiful to look at and perfect as gifts or as a treat for yourself.
The 9th floor features the Ginza Terrace, a lawn area and café where visitors can relax. This rooftop space is a quiet oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city and a great place to spend time with friends and family. Especially on sunny days, many people gather here to enjoy a pleasant time.
The restaurant floors on the 11th and 12th floors offer a diverse selection of Japanese, Western, Chinese, and ethnic cuisines. This floor, which offers a variety of cuisines from different countries, provides an experience like traveling the world through dining. Many people especially love it as a perfect place to dine on special occasions or with loved ones.
Highlights and Features
The lion statue at Ginza Mitsukoshi's main entrance symbolizes the city's history and tradition, giving visitors a sense of security and familiarity. The statue is widely known as a meeting place for tourists and locals alike.
Ginza Mitsukoshi holds special events and exhibitions each season, offering new experiences for visitors. For example, cherry blossom-themed exhibits in the spring and extraordinary art events in the summer allow visitors to enjoy a sense of the seasons. These events provide a cultural experience beyond mere shopping and keep visitors engaged.
Ginza Mitsukoshi offers visitors a luxurious shopping experience with carefully selected, high-quality merchandise. Each floor of the store offers a variety of domestic and international brands in fashion, cosmetics, food, and other areas. In particular, many of the products are exclusive to Ginza. This allows visitors to obtain special products and a sense of satisfaction.
Contemporary artworks are displayed throughout the Ginza Mitsukoshi building, offering visitors discoveries. These art pieces can be enjoyed between shopping trips and provide visual stimulation. The art exhibits change regularly, so no matter how often you visit, a new experience awaits you, and you will feel the cultural depth.
Ginza Mitsukoshi Restaurants
Located on the 11th floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi, VIDRIO is a restaurant specializing in Spanish cuisine that has won numerous international awards. The chef's creative cuisine is a modern interpretation of traditional Spanish flavors, offering visitors a new dining experience. The beautiful presentation and wine pairings make this the perfect place for a special occasion dinner.
Yakiniku BANTE JUBAN is a yakiniku restaurant in the heart of Ginza that serves the highest quality Miyazaki beef. In particular, the female beef is tender and has an exquisite sweetness of fat, and it is grilled to perfection. The restaurant's interior exudes a sense of luxury, allowing you to enjoy a sumptuous meal in a relaxed atmosphere. Many foodies love it as the perfect place to dine on special occasions or with loved ones.
Bon Bonheur is a French café in Ginza Mitsukoshi, where you can enjoy unique French assortments and desserts. Designed for adults, this café offers sophisticated cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. The desserts, in particular, are visually stunning and rich in flavor, enticing visitors. It is ideal for various occasions, from a casual lunch to a special tea time.
Minoru Shokudo is a cafeteria operated by JA Zen-Noh. It offers a menu of Japanese and Western cuisine using seasonal, domestic ingredients. At lunchtime, the vegetable-rich set menus are popular and recommended for health-conscious diners. At dinner time, enjoy our a la carte menu and domestic wines and savor your meal in a relaxed atmosphere. It is a great place to dine with family or friends.
Tsukiji Aozora Sanjo is a sushi restaurant in Ginza Mitsukoshi, where you can enjoy fresh seafood purchased by the chef's connoisseurs. In particular, seafood directly shipped from the Tsukiji market is fresh and has a great flavor. In addition to sushi, the restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, such as sashimi and seafood rice bowls, providing visitors with a sense of satisfaction. A luxurious dining experience awaits sushi lovers.
Outline of the Foreign Visitors Information Center
Located in Ginza Mitsukoshi, the Foreign Visitors Information Center is an important base for providing information to foreign visitors to Japan. This information center helps tourists enjoy their trip in comfort and maximize the appeal of the Ginza area. In addition to providing sightseeing pamphlets and maps, it also introduces nearby tourist spots and facilities, making it a reassuring presence for visiting foreigners.
This tourist information center provides tourist brochures and maps in English and other languages to help visitors explore Ginza efficiently. It particularly helps visitors enjoy local culture and food by providing information on nearby tourist facilities and restaurants. This makes it easier for visitors to make plans according to their interests and to realize a more fulfilling stay.
Language support is primarily in English, but Chinese and Korean are also available at the adjacent duty-free counter. This multilingual support is an important element in meeting the diverse needs of foreign visitors to Japan and is a significant advantage, especially for visitors from Asian countries. It creates an environment in which more tourists can use the service with ease, transcending language barriers.
The tourist information center at Ginza Mitsukoshi is conveniently located just a 0-minute walk from Ginza Station. This accessibility makes it easy for tourists to stop by and quickly obtain tourist information. In particular, for tourists visiting Ginza for the first time, the proximity to the station provides a great sense of security, making it an ideal starting point for sightseeing.
The tourist information center follows Ginza Mitsukoshi's business hours and is usually open from 10:30 to 20:00. During these hours, tourists can obtain necessary information and make plans for shopping and sightseeing. Tax-free services are also offered during the same hours, allowing tourists to smoothly complete tax-free procedures after enjoying their shopping experience.
Details of Tax-Free Services
A tax-free counter for foreign visitors is located on the M2 floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi. At this counter, professional staff are on hand to ensure that foreign visitors to Japan can smoothly complete the tax exemption procedures. The procedure is simple, and by bringing the necessary documents, you can receive your consumption tax refund quickly. In particular, Ginza Mitsukoshi is used by many foreign tourists because of its location.
The tax exemption procedure applies to purchases of 10,001 yen or more before tax. A consumption tax refund can be received by fulfilling these conditions, making this service very attractive to foreign tourists. This tax exemption system can reduce costs, especially when purchasing high-value items.
The tax exemption procedure requires a 1.1% administrative processing fee of 1.1% of the product price. This fee is set to expedite the process and maintain the quality of service. It is a worthwhile investment for tourists, as they can still get a good deal even after paying the fee.
Several documents are required to complete the duty-free procedure. Specifically, you will be asked for your passport, purchase receipt, and credit card. These documents are essential to prove that the purchaser is a foreigner and to ensure proper processing. Preparing these documents in advance will help the process go smoothly.
However, certain products are not eligible for tax exemption. These include foodstuffs, beverages, and cosmetics. Since these products are not subject to duty-free procedures, care must be taken when purchasing them. It is important for tourists to understand these restrictions when selecting duty-free products.
Recommended Souvenirs
Frédéric Cassel is a renowned patissier with a main store in a suburb of Paris. It offers a special assortment of baked goods available only at Ginza Mitsukoshi. In particular, the "Boite Gourmand" offers traditional French flavors such as sablée made with butter from Brittany, pie crust palmiers, and spiced speculoos. These baked goods are beautiful to look at and make great gifts.
The Vegan Marshmallow is a vegan sweets brand from New York that only has a permanent store at Ginza Mitsukoshi. Their "Ginza Vegan Cookie Can" is a perfect sweet for health-conscious people, using only plant-based ingredients. In particular, their vegan meringue cookies melt in the mouth and offer a unique taste that differentiates them from ordinary Western sweets.
Founded in 1946, Ginza Kanoko is a specialty anmitsu store now only available at Ginza Mitsukoshi. The "Ganso Kanoko Anmitsu" is characterized by its gorgeous toppings, a perfect combination of slippery agar, large beans, and special crushed bean paste. Enjoyed with a drizzle of original molasses, this wagashi is a must-try for any wagashi lover.
Tsubouchuan is a ryotei (Japanese-style restaurant) located in Shirokanedai, Tokyo, that offers gorgeous Fukiyose cookie tins made with wasabi. These cookie tins are filled with eleven different kinds of cookies made from various Japanese ingredients, offering a beautiful appearance and a delightful taste. A great gift idea, this product is perfect for special occasions.
Juli is a brand that offers gluten-free sweets made with rice flour, especially their Rice Langdosha Chocolate. This sweet is made with rice flour and soy milk dough and sandwiched between high cocoa chocolate, giving it a bittersweet sweetness. This sweet, which takes advantage of the characteristics of rice flour, offers a unique taste and is recommended for health-conscious people.
Access and Location Convenience
Ginza Mitsukoshi is directly connected to Ginza Station, making access very convenient. Located only a minute's walk from the station, it is ideal for tourists. Located at the 4-chome intersection in the heart of Ginza, this department store is a long-established landmark for visitors, having been in business since 1930.
Numerous tourist attractions are scattered around Ginza Mitsukoshi. For example, Ginza Shise Jizoson and the Art Aquarium Museum offer a wealth of cultural attractions. In addition, the Ginza district is a center for shopping and dining, and various experiences await visitors.
Ginza Mitsukoshi is very conveniently accessible by car, with parking available on the fourth basement level. While securing parking in the city's heart is often tricky, cars can be parked here with peace of mind. This allows tourists to enjoy shopping comfortably without carrying heavy luggage.
Public transportation is also very convenient, with access to the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Marunouchi, and Hibiya lines. This allows tourists to arrive at Ginza Mitsukoshi smoothly, with easy access from other areas of Tokyo. In particular, Ginza Station is a central transportation hub and an ideal base for sightseeing.
The Ginza area offers many shopping facilities and restaurants, including Ginza Mitsukoshi. With luxury brand stores and restaurants offering international cuisine, visitors can choose from diverse experiences to suit their tastes. This makes Ginza more than just a shopping destination; it is also a popular place to enjoy food, culture, and entertainment.
Official Site (English)→Ginza Mitsukoshi
