Matsuya Ginza
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Ginza Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Hours
- 11:00–20:00 (closes at 19:30 on Sundays and the final day of consecutive holidays; 8F restaurants open until 22:00, 21:30 on Sundays/holiday ends)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Weekday mornings right after opening at 11:00 for uncrowded floors, or after dusk when the 120-meter glass facade illuminates Ginza-dori until 22:00
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Matsuya Ginza is a historic, upscale department store renowned for its sleek modern facade and curated selection of high-end fashion, traditional Japanese crafts, and design goods. Unlike more sprawling department stores, its compact layout makes browsing its premium boutiques and designer labels highly manageable. The basement food hall (depachika) is an absolute highlight, offering exquisite Japanese sweets, gourmet bento boxes, and international delicacies.
What Japanese guides note
Japanese sources treat Matsuya Ginza not simply as a fashion retailer, but as a cornerstone of Japanese product design through its partnership with the Japan Design Committee. Unlike most Tokyo department stores that feature Shinto Inari shrines on their roofs, Matsuya maintains a Buddhist sanctuary affiliated with Mount Koya. Visitors arriving via the subway can reach the store via Exit A12, avoiding surface crossings entirely.
Details from local sources
- The rooftop houses Ryuko Fudoson, a Buddhist sanctuary transferred from Koyasan Ryukoin in 1929 with a hall designed by Imperial Household architect Yasutaro Aoike. [source]
- Because the deity name Ryuko is phonetically identical to the Japanese term for fashion and trends, Ryuko Fudoson is an established prayer destination for apparel professionals. [source]
- The first-floor ceiling contains Sanskrit protective characters for the Four Heavenly Kings brushed by the chief abbot of Senso-ji during a 1964 building expansion. [source]
- The seventh floor hosts Design Gallery 1953 and the Design Collection shop, established with the Japan Design Committee to curate functional modern goods. [source]
- The central atrium named Space of Ginza spans seven floors with a 25-meter ceiling height and contains the historic Sky Ribbon escalator completed in 1956. [source]
- The entire building was requisitioned by GHQ from November 1945 to 1952 to serve as the primary Tokyo Post Exchange for Allied occupation forces. [source]
Insider Tip
Visit the 7th-floor Design Gallery for rotating exhibitions curated by the Japan Design Committee, showcasing world-class craftsmanship.
Frequently asked
How do I access Matsuya Ginza from the subway?
Tokyo Metro Ginza, Marunouchi, and Hibiya line trains serve Ginza Station, which connects directly to the store's basement level through Exit A12. Ginza-itchome Station on the Yurakucho Line is a three-minute walk from Exit 9, and Higashi-Ginza Station on the Asakusa Line is three minutes from Exit A8.
Is the shrine on the roof a Shinto shrine?
No, it is a Buddhist sanctuary called Ryuko Fudoson, brought from Koyasan Ryukoin in 1929. The hall enshrines Fudo Myo'o and was designed by Imperial architect Yasutaro Aoike. Because Ryuko sounds identical to the Japanese word for fashion trends, fashion designers and apparel professionals frequently pray there.
What is significant about the 7th floor?
The seventh floor houses Design Gallery 1953 and the Design Collection shop, run in partnership with the Japan Design Committee. Rather than ordinary retail goods, every piece is vetted by prominent Japanese designers like Naoto Fukasawa, complete with written explanatory design notes and rotating experimental design exhibitions.
What are the Sanskrit symbols on the ground floor ceiling?
During the store's 1964 renovation, Sanskrit bonji characters representing the Four Heavenly Kings were installed on the first-floor ceiling corners to protect the premises. They were hand-brushed by the chief abbot of Senso-ji Temple, with a fifth character representing Taishakuten added during 2001 renovations directly beneath the rooftop deity.
What are the store hours and Sunday closing times?
Matsuya Ginza is open from 11:00 to 20:00 Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and the final evening of multi-day national holidays, retail floors close thirty minutes earlier at 19:30. The eighth-floor Restaurant City Ginza remains open until 22:00, or 21:30 on Sundays and holiday conclusions.
Tours near Matsuya Ginza
On the same walk
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