(1) Location & Access
- Ginza is a commercial area on the eastern side of JR Yurakucho Station, and to the northeast of JR Shimbashi Station.
- Many subway lines have stations in the area, including the Ginza Line, the Hibiya Line, the Marunouchi Line, the Chiyoda Line and the Asakusa Line. JR also has other stations nearby, adding to the ease of access to and from the area.


Ginza

(2) Overview
This area is one of the largest commercial areas in central Tokyo. Its luxurious and traditional feel is unique to the area and is not seen in other commercial areas such as Shinjuku or Shibuya.

It is generally said that real-estate values are especially high along Chuo-dori and Harumi-dori Streets. Many foreign luxury brands have branches along Namiki-dori Street and since the late 1990s, the area saw a significant influx of new stores, as well as an expansion of existing stores. Some companies, such as Hermes, Chanel and Swatch Group Japan, have purchased land and constructed their own buildings. Such foreign luxury brand shops used to concentrate in the Ginza 5-chome to 8-chome areas, including Namiki-dori Street. However, an increasing number of shops are opening in new buildings constructed in the Ginza 1-chome to 4-chome areas over the past few years. With the completion of the Yurakucho ITOCiA commercial building in front of JR Yurakucho Station in November 2007 as a result of a long-pursued redevelopment project, the area is increasing its appeal to customers. The old-house ("shinise") department store Matsuzakaya was planning to redevelop its store into a skyscraper. It canceled its plans in October 2006, due to local criticism of the plan stemming from the "Ginza rule", which limits buildings in the area to a maximum height of 56 meters.

(3) Profile Data
1. Major office buildings: year completed, major owner
Ginza Toshiba Building: 1934, Tokyu Land
Nissan Motor Main Office: 1968, Nissan Motor
Nissan Motor New Building: 1982, Mori Trust Sogo Reit
Recruit Ginza 7-chome Building: 1984, Recruit
Ginza Mitsui Building: 2005, Mitsui Fudosan

2. Major companies
Nissan Motor (will relocate in Yokohama City in 2009), Ricoh

3. Major facilities
Department Stores: Printemps Ginza, Matsuya, Mitsukoshi, Hankyu, Seibu
Specialty stores: Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Coach, Ferragamo, Prada,
Gucci, Bulgari
Theaters: Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujo
Hotels: The Peninsula, Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Courtyard Tokyo Ginza and Ginza Nikko Hotel