Ginza is a district in Tokyo known for its glamorous shopping streets filled with lux fashion brands like Chanel and Gucci. The main street is lined with glass buildings glinting in the sun, and signature perfumes wafting through the air any time someone opens a door.

But that’s not where Ginza culture ends.

This lively Tokyo district is also home to art galleries, smaller local temples and shrines, nightlife, and even performances of Kabuki – a tradition where drama meets dance, and is performed in elaborate costumes.

Walk a little further and you’ll also find yourself at the famous Tsukiji Outer Market for delicious food, as well as the impressive Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple.

If you want to experience all of this, you’re going to need more than a few hours for some window shopping. It’s worth staying in Ginza a night or two to see it all!

It might seem daunting to stay in this glittering district, but The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-Chome was created to be a warm and welcoming place, no matter what type of travel you’re looking for.

The hotel is located a little further out of central Ginza to give you a little peace and quiet, and encourage you to explore nearby. “6-Chome” (pronounced roku-cho-meh) is the name of the neighborhood within the district.

There’s a clear contrast between the main shopping street and the area around the hotel. The hotel is about a 5-minute taxi ride from Tokyo Station. If you walk from Ginza Station (around 6 minutes), you’ll start off strolling through crowds of residents and tourists alike. But eventually you’ll suddenly find yourself in calmer surroundings, and you’ll wonder if you’re still in the same district!

You can easily skip the busy streets and come straight to Higashi-ginza Station for a closer option, too – it’s about a 3-minute walk from exit 4. (Definitely the better option if you have big bags!) It’s worth noting that Higashi-ginza Station is located on the Toei Asakusa Line, which has access to both Haneda Airport (direct) and Narita Airport (with Skyliner access via Aoto Station).

The new Ginza hotel has taken inspiration from local culture to create a bright and friendly space with a modern take on retro themes. Here’s what to look out for during your stay.

The first thing you’ll notice as you walk in is the bright and airy lobby space. It is decorated with refreshing yet tasteful greens and yellows, which are said to represent the colors of the picturesque line of ginkgo trees nearby.

Walk straight ahead through the archway and take the lift to the lobby on Floor 2, or walk up the stairs to your right to check in at the reception.

On that same reception floor, there is also a lounge space, a mini convenience store, and a “Snack” bar for evening drinks (more on that later). The lounge area has comfy seating as well as desk space for getting some work done, and even retro board games like Backgammon and Connect Four.

Outside of the reception floor, you’ll also find the hotel’s restaurant on Floor 1, and the stylish shared baths on the Basement floor.

All throughout the hotel, you’ll see different nods to the Showa period (1926-1989), but with an energetic modern aesthetic. The decorations by the elevators have retro telephones and tasteful art on the walls.

There are a few different types of rooms at The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-Chome, starting with the Standard Twin Room at 22m2, all the way up to the top-floor Suite, which is an impressive 67m2. In between, there are also different double bed rooms and corner rooms to choose from.

During my stay, I was in a Standard Twin. The Simmons beds were comfy and just the right hardness, and there was a small table and chair by the window. I was very thankful for the double set of blinds, with one semi-opaque and the other close to black-out for a good night’s sleep.

There was a large TV complete with connected video services like Netflix and YouTube (requires sign-in), as well as standard amenities like tea bags, coffee, and slippers. If you’re not feeling up to the challenge of the shared baths, not to worry, because all rooms have their own rain shower, or in the larger rooms, a bath of their own.

As for the other rooms, the main difference is in the amount of space and the size of the TV and bathrooms. Personally, I really liked the Corner Deluxe Twin Room, which had a little hallway leading into the room, making it feel even more like your own space.

But it’s undeniable that the view from the Suite on the top floor is great for that Tokyo vibe.

There is one other difference you might notice during your stay. Walking through the hallway, you’ll find that the carpet and walls change from a persimmon red to a muted green. These colors come from the signature colors of Kabuki theater, and the lively red is designed for those here for fun, while the green is for serious business. The only other difference between the rooms in each color scheme is that rooms in green have desks more suited for getting some work done.

An important part of Ginza and Tokyo culture is shared baths!

If you’re ready to dip your toes into this part of Ginza culture, head down to the Basement floor for a moment of relaxation in the stylish green and yellow baths.

In the changing room area, you’ll find lockers to put your clothes in, as well as a water dispenser and an area to dry your hair and wash your face afterwards. Inside, there is a washing area (to use before entering the bath) complete with soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

You can visit the baths in the slippers and pajamas provided in the room, and don’t forget to bring your towel and a hair brush! When you enter the baths, go au natural, not with a towel or swimsuit on, and just relax.

A handy feature of the hotel is that you can check how crowded the baths are from the TV in your room!

We mentioned earlier that there is a “Snack” bar on the reception floor. It’s called KOBIKICHŌ-CLUB, but don’t be fooled – this is not a place to get chips and dip!

A Snack Bar is a type of Japanese bar that is an integral part of Ginza culture. They are usually hosted by a friendly female bartender known as “Mama-san,” who will chat with you and create a fun atmosphere among the guests.

Unlike a hostess bar, the Mama-san won’t come out from behind the bar, or be overly flirty, but she will do everything with a smile and
create a bubbly atmosphere!

Normally, Snack Bars are hard to enter for one-time visitors, because the idea is that you buy a bottle of alcohol, and come back regularly to make your way through it. This, along with the steep entry fees, can make them a challenge for tourists. But at KOBIKICHŌ-CLUB, if you’re staying at the hotel, you only need to pay for the seating charge and the 1-drink minimum (all together, starting at 3,000 yen).

KOBIKICHŌ-CLUB has a stylish atmosphere with up-market bottles of whiskeys and sakes lining the walls, but also has a friendly vibe complete with a karaoke machine. If you’d rather a more intimate experience, there is also a private room in the back with access to the bar.

Keeping in step with the retro theme of the hotel is YŌSHOKU-YA GINZA LAMP-TEI.

During the Showa Period, a style of cuisine known as Yoshoku became particularly popular. Directly translated, it means “Western food,” but in reality, Yoshoku is a casual take on fusion cuisine, with distinctly Japanese flavors coming through.

YŌSHOKU-YA GINZA LAMP-TEI serves modern takes on Yoshoku at both breakfast and dinner. You’ll find dishes like omurice (omelet over flavored white rice) and Japanese Hamburg steak (a juicy meat patty with a savory sauce).

During my stay, I was able to sample from the breakfast buffet, which had an array of different stations including: a salad bar, a hot food station, an onigiri (rice ball) station, a bread and pastry station, a dessert area, a mini yakitori stall, and a small drinks bar.

One of the highlights of the buffet was the onigiri station, which had eight different fillings to choose from and was made fresh on the spot!

As for the hot food, this is a good chance to sample a few different types of Yoshoku cuisine if you haven’t had it before. During my stay, there was spaghetti with meat sauce, shrimp gratin, braised pork, scrambled egg, sausages, and teriyaki yellowtail.

One of my favorites from the bread section was the mini melonpan cupcakes, which are like a sweet bread with a biscuity top layer – they tasted extra-good when I put them in the toaster oven for a couple of minutes!

Overall, my stay at The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-Chome was very comfortable, and the Mama-san at KOBIKICHŌ-CLUB was so friendly it was a shame I couldn’t stay longer!

If you want to spend some time in Ginza to get to know what lies beyond the shopping streets, The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-Chome is the place to go.

Located in Tokyo’s Ginza district, the hotel is a three-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station, Exit 3/4/A1 (via the Tokyo Metro / Toei Asakusa Line / lifts are available at Exit 3 and A1). Alternatively, it is a six-minute walk from Ginza Station, Exit A3 (via Tokyo Metro lines / lift is available at A7). View directions from Tokyo Station here.

The hotel is easily accessible from Haneda and Narita international airports by train.