Mitsukoshi Ginza
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Ginza Station · 1 min walk (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Hours
- 10:00–20:00 (restaurants 11:00–23:00, varies by shop)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Weekday mornings before noon for smaller crowds in the basement food halls, or weekend afternoons during pedestrian mall hours on Chuo-dori
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Located at Ginza's iconic central crossing, Mitsukoshi is one of Japan's oldest and most prestigious luxury department stores. It is a haven for high-end Japanese cosmetics, designer fashion, and exquisite craftsmanship. Visitors should not miss the legendary 'depachika' basement food hall, which showcases an overwhelming array of gourmet traditional sweets, bento boxes, and international delicacies.
What Japanese guides note
Basement food halls do not permit eating while walking, but visitors can take prepared items directly to the open lawn and benches on the 9th-floor Ginza Terrace. The Main Building and New Building do not connect on every floor, so visitors must navigate via the bridge passages on floors 3 through 9. On weekend afternoons, Chuo-dori outside becomes a vehicle-free pedestrian street, allowing direct above-ground access via the Lion Gate entrance.
Details from local sources
- The 9th-floor rooftop terrace houses Ginza Shusse Jizoson, a stone statue unearthed during the Meiji era from the Sanjugenbori canal and registered as a Chuo Ward Tangible Folk Cultural Property. [source]
- The bronze lion statue at the Ginza 4-chome street entrance was cast in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, and erected in November 1972 to commemorate Mitsukoshi's 300th anniversary. [source]
- A branch of Mimeguri Shrine, the patron shrine of the founding Mitsui family, stands on the 9th-floor terrace alongside the Jizo pavilion. [source]
- The complex comprises two structures—the Main Building (Honkan, B4F–9F) and the New Building (Shinkan, B3F–12F)—which connect horizontally between the 3rd and 9th floors. [source]
- Japan Duty Free GINZA on the Main Building's 8th floor operates as an airport-style duty-free store where purchased goods are delivered directly to Narita or Haneda airports for departure pick-up. [source]
- The Overseas Customer Service Center on the 7th floor of the New Building houses tax refund desks, automated currency exchange machines, and hotel delivery logistics. [source]
- The basement parking facility accommodates 399 vehicles at ¥300 per 30 minutes, but vehicles cannot exit between 23:30 and 08:00. [source]
Insider Tip
Visit the 9th-floor 'Ginza Terrace' for a free, peaceful rooftop garden oasis to rest your feet away from the busy shopping crowds.
Frequently asked
Where can I eat food purchased from the depachika basement?
Food purchased in the B2 and B3 food halls cannot be eaten in the shopping aisles. Take items to the 9th-floor Ginza Terrace, an open rooftop garden with wooden decking, seating, and a lawn area designated for rest and casual dining.
Where is the tax refund counter located?
Tax-free processing is located at the Overseas Customer Service Center on the 7th floor of the New Building. Shoppers must present original passports, receipts, and purchased items on the same day. The facility also features foreign currency exchange machines and hotel delivery services.
What is the history of the bronze lion outside?
Modeled after the lions in London's Trafalgar Square, the Mitsukoshi lion first debuted at the Nihombashi flagship in 1914. The Ginza statue was cast in Takaoka and installed in 1972 for Mitsukoshi's 300th anniversary, functioning as Ginza 4-chome's most recognized meeting spot.
How does the 8th-floor duty-free shop differ from other floors?
Japan Duty Free GINZA on the 8th floor is a downtown airport-style bonded shop. Rather than paying upfront and claiming tax back later, shoppers buy goods completely exempt from customs duties, consumption tax, and liquor taxes, then pick them up past passport control at Narita or Haneda.
Which subway exit connects directly into Mitsukoshi Ginza?
Tokyo Metro Ginza Station connects directly via subterranean passages at the Ginza 4-chome Crossing ticket gate. Exits A7 and A8 lead straight into the store's basement or surface right beside the Lion Gate on the street level.
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