1.
Ginza; Tokyo's premier shopping and dining district
The district in central Tokyo known for department stores, luxury boutiques, galleries, and expensive restaurants. The name comes from the Edo-period silver mint that stood there, and it now stands generally for high-end shopping.
Common expressions
- 銀座通り: Ginza's main avenue
- 銀ぶら: strolling around Ginza (a coined word from 銀座 + ぶらぶら)
- 〜の銀座: the "Ginza" of somewhere — any bustling, prosperous shopping street
- 歩行者天国: the weekend pedestrian zone Ginza is famous for
Cultural note
Because the name signals prestige, towns across Japan have borrowed it for their own main streets, and businesses use it to suggest quality. Saying a shop is 銀座価格 implies its prices are high even for what it sells.