Cafe Paulista Ginza, the oldest cafe in Ginza, is known for its illustrious history. Enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee under its gorgeous chandeliers makes this a popular spot to relax.

Both of its two floors are spacious. The mood is perfect for a leisurely light meal or coffee.

The Mori no Kohi [Coffee of the Forest], made with organic coffee beans imported from Brazil, is especially popular. It is brewed with high-quality coffee beans that meet Paulista's original standards which give it an excellent flavor that is bold yet not bitter.

In addition to a wide assortment of coffee types, the menu also includes light dishes and pastries, making this a perfect place to stop by for a leisurely moment while strolling about the Ginza. Tourists will appreciate the fact that the menus are also written in English.

The store sells coffee beans online, and you can also purchase them in the cafe. The special tumblers are ideal for your own use and also make excellent souvenirs.

While enjoying food and drink, the cafe will give you a Ginbura Certificate which attests to you having enjoyed "Ginbura" - a Japanese expression meaning "going to the Cafe Paulista to enjoy a cup of coffee while walking about the Ginza". When you pay at the cashier the certificate is stamped and once you get 10 stamps you will receive a free cup of coffee.

Displayed in the cafe is a pamphlet that explains its history and early years. When you stop by, be sure to have a look at this!

This long-established cafe in the middle of Ginza is the perfect place to take a break. It is also a good spot from which to begin and end your stroll about the Ginza.

The large, red paper clip makes the Ginza Itoya stationery easy to spot. The store was renovated in 2015 and its concept was changed from one as being a "Ginza shop where you can buy things" to one of being a "shop where you can experience many things". Many ideas went into ways of creating comfortable spaces throughout the store.

Each floor, from the basement up to the 12th, has its own unique character and charm, but in this article we'll focus on those floors that are of particular interest to foreign visitors.

But before telling you more about the floors, I first want to point out the most unique feature of the store - you can drink as you walk about the store. There is a drink bar at the entrance on the 1st floor, where you can enjoy many kinds of refreshing drinks made with fruit.

After you get yourself a drink, go up to the 8th floor where there are paper craft goods and materials; this is the most popular with foreigners. In addition to paper for origami and stickers, there is one corner given over to a large selection of washi [Japanese paper].

While we were there the gorgeous Japanese paper and origami were very popular as visitors are allowed to handle them in order to better appreciate their delicate elegance.

The 7th floor, which handles Western paper, is also very popular. Here there are 1,080 different types of paper offering a broad selection of color and quality for a wide range of uses.

Many people come to look for paper to use for special purposes such as invitations, letters, brochures and wrapping for ceremonial occasions, and many people also take photos of the beautiful displays.

Let’s continue on to the second floor which has a corner for stationery for writing letters. There is also a space where you can sit and write letters as well as a large post box for mailing them. This is popular with many visitors who like to sit and write letters having an original design to send to family and friends telling them about their trip.

One of the most popular spots is the Nomad Corner located on the 5th floor in the Business Tools section. This place is ideal for taking a break or doing a little work as there are electrical outlets which can be used for free to charge your smartphone or laptop.

It may be a surprise to some that a corner like this is provided in a stationery shop, but it is part of the new concept mentioned earlier of being a Ginza shop where you can experience many things. Naturally there is also free Wi-Fi.

While visiting to write this article I was often struck with the thought, "Is this really a stationery store?" because of such unique features as the restaurant on the 11th floor that uses organic vegetables grown with hydroponics, something which also can be visited. There certainly are many interesting features here you will not find in other stationery stores. There is a tax-free counter on the 6th floor where you can go when you are ready to pay for your purchases.

In addition, behind the main building “G. Itoya”, which can be spotted by its red paper clip, there is the “K. Itoya” that has a fountain pen to distinguish it. In addition to handling stationery that is designed more for daily use, there are corners where you can make your own note paper, so be sure to stop by and take a look here, too.

Finally we come to the Renga-tei, an old Western-style restaurant located on the Ginza Gas Lamp Street next to Ginza Chuo-dori. Established in 1895, it has been in business continuously for more than 120 years. The brick storefront reflects the Ginza shop's name, which in English would be "Brick Hall", and conveys the ambiance of an older era.

Once inside, you will be greeted by retro goods, Ginza and Kabuki posters, and the exotic interior will make you feel like you have slipped back in time.

The second floor is spacious and from the seats by the window you can look out on the street in front of the store and see the Ginza shop's sign.

Three items on the menu are especially famous. One of them is the Original Pork Cutlet (2,000 yen including tax) which is prepared in exactly the same way as it was when the shop first opened.

The cutlet is simply seasoned and quite large in size. The meat is so tender that it can be easily cut with a knife.

Adding a touch of sauce enhances the flavor. It comes with Japanese mustard which makes the cutlet taste even more delicious.

We also tried the Meiji-era Rice Omelet (2,100 yen including tax) Together with the Original Hayashi Rice, these are the other two famous items on the menu.

Cutting into the fluffy egg exposes the inside filled with rice stuffed with mushroom and ground beef. As with the cutlet, the omelet is also simply seasoned and so flavorful you’ll want to keep coming back for more.

Of course there are also other items on the menu, which also happens to be in English, in addition to the cutlet, rice omelet, and hayashi rice

Renga-tei, the first Western-style restaurant to serve pork cutlets and fried foods in Japan, was the first to be called Yoshoku-ya, a term used to designate restaurants that served Western-style cuisine, and since its outset has led the way in Western food culture.

While reporting on this Ginza shop, Mr. Kida, the proprietor, said, “We will continue in our efforts to serve delicious Western food every day and pass on Western food culture to future generations. I sincerely look forward to your patronage,” he concluded with much sincerity.

If you work up an appetite while strolling about the Ginza, then you should definitely stop by the Renga-tei for a delicious meal that will stick to your ribs!

The three shops mentioned above are some of the most famous in Ginza. Each has a long and proud history and first time visitors are most welcome. Visited by many foreign visitors the staff in each establishment is accustomed to addressing their needs. The Ginza is easily accessible from anywhere in Tokyo making it the perfect place to go for a stroll.