For those hoping to splurge a little for an extravagant experience, look for the luxury restaurants featuring Michelin-starred food or kaiseki - traditional Japanese full course meals. Some well-known names of this type of restaurant are Ginza Ishizuka for Japanese cuisine, Ginza Ibuki, KATSURA, or Ginkuma Saryo for kaiseki, and Ginza Ukai-Tei for French cuisine. Dinner starts from 10,000 yen in these high-end establishments. Because most of them also come with private dining rooms, these restaurants are popular meeting places for famous celebrities, politicians, and businessmen looking for a place to dine and discuss in peace, away from the scrutiny of the public eye.

To distinguish themselves from other eateries, some restaurants in Ginza insist on only using locally sourced wagyu (Japanese marbled beef) for their beef offerings. This includes the yakiniku (meat grill) restaurant SAGAYA Ginza, sukiyaki hotpot store Miyashita, and wagyu yakiniku shop Ushigoro. But what if you don't feel like fine dining today? Fret not, for there's a whole slew of reasonably-priced wagyu buffet restaurants out there as well for you to satisfy your stomach while maximizing your yen at the same time! Some of the more popular options include shops like shabushabu and sukiyaki hotpot place Shabuzen, A5 Japanese Black wagyu yakiniku shop Ayaburi Musashi, and Oreno Yakiniku. For these eateries, expect to shell out between 5,000 to 10,000 yen for a full meal.

The iconic sushi can be found everywhere in Ginza and like the wagyu shops, many of these boast about the premium ingredients used in their dishes. You'll probably find a high-end sushi bar at just about every corner in Ginza, such as Ginza Kyubey, a historic place famous for edomae sushi, a sushi preparation style that features sliced ingredients pressed on top of vinegar rice. This is likely the image that immediately comes to mind for most people when they hear the word "sushi"! For a trendier dining experience, try Sushi Fujita, or make a reservation at Michelin 2-star restaurant Sawada for a sushi-licious experience you'll never forget. The charm and appeal of itamae sushi bars is how closely you will be seated to the chef preparing your food, allowing you to enjoy the dining process from its literal start to finish while engaging all your senses.

Don't forget about the countless conveyor belt sushi bars and all-you-can-eat sushi buffets that can be found in Ginza as well! Try such shops as Nemuro Hanamaru, Hina Sushi, or Tsukiji Tamasushi whenever you're in the mood for gorging on this local comfort food without burning a massive hole in your travel pocket.

Because Ginza has been a bustling center for trade since the Edo period (1603—1867 C.E.), the old-time food stores here have filled the stomachs of many with the familiar flavor of home for decades and continue to do so today. Consider exploring this part of Ginza's food culture by visiting Renga-Tei, the originator of the Japanese-style omelet rice. There's also Kimuraya Sohonten, the shop that invented the wildly popular anpan (red bean stuffed bun) that even became a favorite of Emperor Meiji himself. Café Paulista Ginza Honten is said to be the shop that kickstarted the original Japanese-style cafe, and Grill Swiss Ginza introduced Japanese-style curry pork cutlet rice to the world. Need a drink after all those tasty treats? Relax and savor some German-style beer in Beer-Hall Lion's vintage atmosphere, or whatever shop along the way that happened to catch your eye! The long histories of these shops can be seen and felt in their nostalgic decor as well as their evergreen recipes. It's a bit of a departure from the usually glamorous Ginza repertoire, but in a very good way indeed!

Since Ginza's posh department stores and classy shops often attract ladies of high status, a very vibrant high tea scene has naturally developed around these shops as well. You, too, can enjoy a spot of high tea in such shops as Shiseido Parlour Salon de Café, or consider visiting the century-old Ginza Sembikiya for their delicately crafted fruit desserts. Shiseido isn't the only luxury brand to open a cafe in these parts. You'll also find CHANEL's Beige Alain Ducasse, Hermès Café, Bvlgari La Terrazza Lounge, and CAFÉ DIOR by LADURÉE here - all easily accessible by anyone who makes the effort to step into Ginza.

Other shops to look out for include Quil Fait Bon Ginza for their fruit tarts, Bills Ginza for what's known as one of the world's best-tasting souffle pancakes, and Eggs' n Things Ginza for their incredibly popular pancakes! You'll never run out of options to satisfy your sweet tooth with here!

Some local soul food can be a nice break in between rich indulgences, and for that, there's always the ubiquitous bowl of ramen. Ginza Kagari is a restaurant that's well known for tori paitan soba, a soba meal that comes in a bowl of thick and flavorful chicken soup. Mugi to Olive is another noodle place to look out for. You won't want to miss their Michelin-recommended clam and chicken ramen! Ginza Hachigo is another Michelin-listed ramen restaurant in Ginza with excellent stock. And if fish stock is your kind of ramen soup, then search for Jikaseimen Itou for a taste of their unusually good fish-based shoyu ramen. The lively competition between ramen stores in Ginza sees to it that everyone (and their bellies!) benefits from the results.

There's something for late-night shoppers here as well! Izakaya, or Japanese-style bars here are usually open until very late at night - way past the closing hours of regular restaurants, so if you've been shopping until the very last minute, feel free to hop into one of these bars for a recharge before heading back to your hotel. Like many shops in Ginza, some bars, like yakitori (chicken skewers) stores Torigin Honten and Takechan, are full of charm and history and will turn you into a regular patron at first bite. Those willing to go all out can aim for the higher-end bars that are decidedly pricier but worth every extra yen spent. One such izakaya to consider is Yakitori Tsukiya. The beauty of Ginza is how there's a shop for every budget and palate. Something you should definitely use to your advantage and preference!

This area lies between Ginza Station and Hibiya Station on the Tokyo Metro and Yurakucho Station on the JR Lines, with each station being a short one to five-minute walk away. The massive glass-covered Tokyu Plaza Ginza commercial complex lies within this area and is a convenient place to shop and eat without having to worry about the weather. Meat products such as wagyu yakiniku and sukiyaki hotpots are main highlights of the eateries here, though you can also easily find restaurants such as Ginza Kagari serving local delights like sushi or Japanese noodles. As this area is home to quite a number of office buildings and office workers often descend upon the area after hours for a spot of relaxation, there's a relatively greater number of izakaya-type eateries here compared to the other areas in Ginza. Something to remember if you're a night owl of sorts!

Yakiniku (Meat Grill) / Teppanyaki (Hot Plate)

Shabushabu & Sukiyaki

Sushi

Izakaya

Ramen, Soba, Udon

▶2023 Rising Stars
・Salmon Atelier Hus

This new restaurant opened in April 2023 at Hibiya Okuroji, which is about a six-minute train ride from Ginza Station. It uses Norway salmon raised in the Arctic Circle as ingredient for its food and features unique items such as fried salmon fillet, smoked salmon appetizer, and rice topped with salmon roes, a dish inspired of Miyagi homecooked food. Fans of salmon cannot afford to miss out on what this amazing new restaurant has to offer!

・Kobe Beef Steak Rokko

A brand-new restaurant promoted by Idea Ginza, a premium Kobe beef restaurant group that officially opened on May 15, 2023 in a place that's only about a five-minute train ride from Ginza Station. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the shop's main feature is their reasonable prices for authentic, succulent Kobe beef directly from the source!

The area from Ginza Station to Ginza 1-chome actually consists of the streets from 1-chome to 4-chome, which is also the main tourist area of Ginza. The presence of major commercial entities like Ginza Mitsukoshi, stationery specialty store Itoya, general goods retailer Tokyu Hands, and the Muji flagship shop reflects the area's popularity. Many visitors include it on their bucket list for good reason.

In terms of food, variety is the name of the game here. The area is packed with plenty of high-end restaurants offering premium wagyu beef or Japanese cuisine. Most luxury cafes operated by top brands such as Chanel and Bulgari are located here as well. For fruit tarts, check out Quil Fait Bon Ginza. All-day breakfast pancakes are available at bills Ginza. Eggs' n Things is another well-known confectionery shop that merits a visit for their fresh butter pancakes. Other than dessert, you may find the taste of Kimuraya's red bean buns interesting. Renga-Tei, the originator of omelet rice, serves up a variety of other foods that they've honed and perfected over their decades of operation as well. If you want something as Japanese as can be, head down to Tama Sushi, an all-you-can-eat sushi store that's guaranteed to keep your stomach full and satisfied.

Wagyu Yakiniku, Teppanyaki

Japanese Cuisine

Chinese Cuisine

Izakayas

Dessert, High Tea, Cafe

▶2023 Rising Stars
・Cafe Dining Botarico

Opened for business since April 1, 2023, Cafe Dining Botarico focuses on the fresh food experience by procuring new ingredients each day to prepare their menu. Some tastily healthy items served here are caprese salad, steak in tomato sauce, lemon curd pasta, and a variety of seasonal fruit-based dessert. An interesting feature of the shop's retro interior is the strategic placement of about 50 bonsai trees that transform the eating area into a relaxation zone as well.

・168 Tenshin Yamucha & Bar Ginza Inz

This new shop that opened in the commercial complex of Ginza Inz on March 1, 2023 is operated by Gozenbo, a cuisine group dedicated to delivering authentic Yunnan food to the masses. Ingredients used here are sourced locally and the tenshin, or dim sum, are carefully prepared by experienced Hong Kong-style dessert chefs. This is a great place to enjoy authentic Hong Kong and Chinese cuisine as well as popular dim sum dishes like xiaolongbao (steamed buns), mapo tofu (tofu in spicy sauce), and Sichuan koushui chicken (mouthwatering chicken). Finish the meal with a lovely glass of wine for the perfect end to a hearty meal or delightful tea break.

There are many high-end hotels such as Hotel Gracery Ginza and AC Hotel by Marriott in this area and shopping options include large-scale commercial complexes like Ginza Six, Ginza Uniqlo, and Ginza Zara. As such, don't be too surprised to see many tourists wandering around the area here at all hours of the day, searching for good food and a good time!

Speaking of food, what can you expect to find here? Other than the usual suspects of grilled meat, Japanese hotpot, sushi, and izakaya food, consider also trying out the unusual but popular fish shoyu ramen from Jikaseimen Itou or the chicken and clam ramen from Mugi to Olive as well! Since cafes such as Shiseido's Parlour Salon de Café, CAFÉ DIOR by LADURÉE, and the Hermès Café can all be found in this area as well, rest assured that your food fuel is guaranteed from breakfast all the way up to midnight and even beyond.

Yakiniku, Teppanyaki

Sukiyaki & Hotpots

Sushi

French Cuisine

Izakaya

▶2023 Rising Stars
・Ginza Sweets March - 4 new shops in popular dessert central

Ginza Sweets March is a dessert specialty marketplace that opened in April 2022 on the first floor of EXITMELSA on 5-chome, featuring a large collection of Western confectionery, traditional Japanese sweets, chocolates, and other sweets. The draw of the place is how easy it is to savor tasty snacks from all over Japan and the world in one location. On March 1, 2023, the dessert street welcomed four new brands that are setting up shop in Tokyo for the first time ever. Premel Cake offers a creative interpretation of the Japanese-style cassata cake. Pâtisserie Maison FUJIYA is a cheesecake specialty store that hails from Hakodate. Kashiya Shirushi's lemon cakes and sandwich cookies add a bit of an artistic twist to their presentation. Finally, Narukorin is ready to delight your taste buds with unique gelato flavors from Japan's first vegetable gelato specialty store.

・Oh!!huggy! Ginza - Flower ohagi traditional snacks

Ohagi refers to a traditional Japanese confectionery made from glutinous rice and a variety of toppings, and Oh!!huggy! (pun definitely intended) is a traditional Japanese snack store that originated from Kobe. The Ginza store is the first time the brand is venturing outside its home turf and officially opened for business on May 19, 2023. Needless to mention, the main product being sold here is the traditional and tasty ohagi. The ohagi here are also shaped like delicate flowers as a bonus visual treat to all who lay eyes on them. Resist the urge to hug these amazingly crafted snacks!

・Ginza Karin - Japanese home food for dinner and late-night suppers

Opened by a Japanese cuisine instructor on April 24, 2023, Ginza Karin starts serving warm and comforting Japanese home cooked meals from 5:00 p.m. all the way to 4:00 a.m. in the morning. Customers can choose from a variety of cooking wine to go with the homecooked meal of the day.

After Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro is Higashi-Ginza Station, accessible within three minutes even on foot, and the Kabuki-za theater is right next to the latter. Traditional arts naturally go well with traditional food, and that's why a number of restaurants in the area offer grilled meat and Japanese cuisine of all sorts, including exotic fare like pufferfish cuisine! This area is also a mere 10-minute walk away from the popular Tsukiji Outer Market, a great informal place for visitors to shop around, take in the sights, or eat good food in a cozy Ginza cafe.

Yakiniku, Teppanyaki

Japanese Cuisine

▶2023 Rising Stars
・Tartotte Ginza - aesthetically pleasing jewel-like tarts

A fruit tart specialty store that opened on April 28, 2023 to much hype and success because of how meticulously crafted their tarts are to look as good as they taste, the shop's amazingly photogenic mini tarts have been fed to many a camera lens with great results, especially on social media. Made with a choice selection of fresh fruits, each juicy bite is enhanced by the generous rich cream and crunchy tart crust to deliver an explosive burst of flavors and textures that feels both exciting and therapeutic at once.

Ginza's glamorous image often gives the impression that food in the area is only for high-end visitors with large pockets. However, nothing could be farther from the truth! While you can definitely go for luxury offerings like wagyu, itamae sushi, and Michelin-star restaurants here, even those on a budget can find something fantastic to buy, eat, and experience without having to break the bank. So don't be afraid to plan a day of Ginza gallivanting into your itinerary so that you can you see for yourself how welcoming and accessible this elegant downtown district of Tokyo really is!

Translation by: Huimin Pan

*This information was current as of June 2023. For the latest updates, please visit the official website.*