People usually think that Ginza is a street in Tokyo. In fact it is not one street only. It is a whole widespread district of Chúó. In the past this was a swampy area next to the Edo Castle. In the 16th Century it was filled in. Subsequently a silver-coin mint was established here in 1612 during the Edo period – silver coins were minted here over 400 years ago. This is where the name Ginza comes from, as gin = silver.
As time went by Ginza developed from a busy settlement with silver-coin mint into the most vivid part of the city, where big shops, department stores, restaurants, night clubs and businesses were concentrated. It became a popular shopping and entertainment area. As properties sky-rocketed here, mostly upper class members zoomed in here and Ginza became more snobbish, more exclusive.
Cleanness and exclusivity – this is the impression of modern Ginza
Nissan Building – 5315 pieces of individual aluminium panels make this building special and interesting. It was opened in September 2016 Many Nissan cars were exhibited inside and this is the one I found the most futuristic Good that my acquaintance from Slovakia (thank you Evička) let me know about a cafe in the building where your picture is taken and then you can drink yourself as foam 🙂
The national flags of Japan with hinomaru = the round of the sun, cought my eyes in this street just off the Chuo Dori Street
Notice that interesting column to the rightStone pillar from 1875 which was originally installed on Kyóbashi bridge. In my article Edo-Tokyo Museum I am writing about Nihonbashi Bridge. This Kyóbashi bridge was constructed approximately in the same time as Nihonbashi, i.e. in 1603. It stretched over the Kyóbashi river, that was filled in 1959 due to land reclamation along it, lasting until 1965. Kyóbashi Bridge was removed and here in Ginza 2 stone pillars and one stone-concrete pillar can be seen now Kyóbashi no Oyabashira – stone-concrete pillar – relic of the former Kyóbashi Bridge. This pillar is giboshi style, used to decorate handrails of japanese bridges as well as temples, shrines. Allegedly it was inspired by hoju = a roof decoration, uppermost spehrical part of a pagoda finial – “a wish-fulfilling jewel”. Good to know, I have a curtain rod with the same finials! 😀 Look at this modern Police Museum. I did not go inside <3 Love is in the air Or stupid Cupid? 🙂 Sony Building built in 1966 was designed by Yoshinobu Ashikara (1918-2003) I can still remember when I first saw this Sony Building. I stood in front of it gazing at myriads of TV screens, those considered to be old fashioned now, as it was back in May 1989. This is Ginza, I was told and Sony Building became a synonym for Ginza in my mind. The screens were on the narrow protruding front of the building, now modest grey seen here. There were very many of them ant it was completely covered by them. I have never ever felt so much in the future as back then… seeing those screens. And they are gone with the wind… 🙂 The Wako Store – built in 1932 – with its clock tower is considered to be the heart of Ginza. Designed by Jin Watanabe in art deco influenced neo-classical style, granite facade / In the whirl of modern city life this building of the Kabukiza Theatre stands. It was rebuilt many times, present-day is already the fifth. This is the latest reconstruction (2010-2013) of the original post 1923 Great Kanto earthquake. This is how the building of 1924 looked, too. The architecture is influenced by the architecture of Japanese castles and temples
