Shopping - Tokyo - page 232

232

daily, though some floors, like the basement food floor, stay open until 8pm. 6-10-1
Ginza, Chuo-ku. & 03/3572-1111. Station: Ginza (2 min.). 1 block from Ginza. 4-chome Crossing
on Chuo Dori in the direction of Shimbashi.
Mitsukoshi This Nihombashi department store is one of Japan's oldest and grandest,
founded in 1673 by the Mitsui family as a kimono store. In 1683, it became the first
store in the world to deal only in cash sales; it was also one of the first stores in Japan to
display goods on shelves rather than have merchants fetch bolts of cloth for each cus-
tomer, as was the custom of the time. In 2008, Mitsukoshi and Isetan (another big name
in department stores; see “In Shinjuku,” below) merged their operations, creating the
biggest department store company in Japan and overtaking the number one position
from rival Takashimaya, below; current Isetan and Mitsukoshi department stores have
retained their respective names (though a new outlet opening in 2011 in Osaka will be
the first to bear the joint Isetan-Mitsukoshi name).
Today, housed in a building dating from 1914, Mitsukoshi remains one of Tokyo's
loveliest department stores, with a beautiful and stately Renaissance-style facade and an
entrance guarded by two bronze lions, replicas of the lions in Trafalgar Square. The store
carries many international name-brand boutiques, from Chanel to Christian Dior. On
its roof is a garden and gardening section, often with a display of bonsai. Its kimono, by
the way, are still hot items. Open daily 10am to 8pm. Another branch, located right on
Ginza 4-chome Crossing ( & 03/3562-1111; daily 10am-8pm), is popular with young
shoppers. 1-4-1 Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku. & 03/3241-3311. Station: Mitsukoshimae
(1 min.).
Takashimaya This department store has always provided stiff competition for Mit-
sukoshi, with a history just as long. It was founded as a kimono shop in Kyoto during
the Edo Period and opened in Tokyo in 1933. Today it's one of the city's most attractive
department stores, with a Renaissance-style building and gloved elevator operators
whisking customers to eight floors of shopping and dining. Naturally, it features bou-
tiques by such famous designers as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Issey Miyake, and
more. Its sale of used kimono (look for advertisements in the Japan Times ) draws huge
crowds, even more than the usual 35,000 daily customers. Open daily 10am to 8pm.
2-4-1 Nihombashi (on Chuo Dori), Chuo-ku. & 03/3211-4111. Station: Nihombashi (1 min.).
Wako This is one of Ginza's smallest department stores but also one of its classiest,
housed in one of the few area buildings that survived World War II. It was erected in
1932 by the Hattori family, founders of the Seiko watch company, and is famous for its
distinctive clock tower, graceful curved facade, and innovative window displays. The
store's ground floor carries a wide selection of Seiko watches and handbags, while the
upper floors carry imported and domestic fashions and luxury items with prices to
match. It caters to older, well-to-do customers; you won't find hordes of young Japanese
girls shopping here. Open Monday to Saturday 10:30am to 6pm; closed holidays. 4-5-11
Ginza (at Ginza 4-chome Crossing), Chuo-ku. & 03/3562-2111. Station: Ginza (1 min.).
Yurakucho Hankyu Connected to Yurakucho Seibu (below), this store carries
mostly clothing and accessories, including shoes in its basement; clothing ranges from
casual wear to business suits and designer wear. Open Monday and Tuesday 11am to
8:30pm; Wednesday to Friday 11am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am to 8pm. 2-5-1
Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku. & 03/3575-2233. Station: Yurakucho (1 min.) or Hibiya and Ginza (2
min.). In Yurakucho, just east of the elevated JR Yamanote Line tracks and btw. the Hibiya and
Ginza subway stations.

9