101 things to do in Ginza

1. Shop for your Sunday best...

This esteemed speciality store holds pride of place on a corner in Ginza 4-chome, its grand facade, complete with clock tower, being something of a landmark. Inside, the quiet halls open up onto shops filled with exclusive watches, jewellery, men's and women's fashion, and food products. Wako map and opening hours

2. Enjoy a coffee original...

This café opened in 1936 with the aim of spreading coffee more widely among the public. Enter the nostalgia-packed place through the pivot door, then sit back and enjoy a cuppa that’s carefully brewed using a flannel filter, along with home-made apple pie and éclairs. Tricolore Honten map and opening hours

3. Add soul to your tablewear...

Refined womenswear brand Epoca The Shop opened this store, extending their eye for detail into the world of pottery, choosing items that convey a soulful expression from the artists. They also stock lacquerware and glassware. Nichi-Nichi (Epoca The Shop) map and opening hours

4. Learn how to buy art...

From past masters to promising newcomers, this gallery offers a wide range of inspiring art at its frequently rotating exhibits. Collectors will appreciate their appraisal and purchase guidance services. Gallery Seizan map and opening hours

5. Visit Okinawa without leaving Tokyo...

As an Okinawan ‘antenna shop’, Washita spreads the region’s local specialties to the rest of Japan, focusing on foods and crafts that are hard to come by in Tokyo. (Sidenote: Ginza is home to antenna shops representing almost all of Japan’s 47 prefectures.) Washita Shop map and opening hours

6. Shake up your happy hour...

Watch the flamboyant cocktail-creating performance of Mr Hard Shake, or Kazuo Ueda, the most famous bartender in Japan whose award-winning drinks have even found acclaim in the World Bartender Champs. Tender map and opening hours

7. Go for a fruity parfait...

Opened in 1902, this spot was a pioneer in Western-style cuisine – they began serving sodas and ice cream before these items became common. Patrons look forward to the monthly dessert specials made with seasonal fruits, while the ice cream sodas from the old days and the classic interior are both a massive draw. Shiseido Parlour (Salon de Café) map and opening hours

8. Pick out a necktie...

Founded in 1905, this menswear store stocks a total of 1,000 nifty neckties, machine woven at the company’s workshop and featuring designs unique to Japan such as a Mt Fuji motif. Taya map and opening hours

9. Visit Japan's first modern art gallery...

Dubbed ‘the first modern art gallery in Japan’, Tokyo Gallery focuses on Japanese, Chinese and Korean artists, and also features a number of mono-ha (an art movement from the ’60s and ’70s) artists such as Lee Ufan, Kishio Suga and Koji Enokura. Tokyo Gallery map and opening hours

10. Sweeten up with traditional treats...

Since the end of WWII, this Japanese-style confectionery store has been making the world a yummier place with treats like okaki (baked or fried rice cakes), yokan (azuki bean jelly) and daifuku (rice cakes stuffed with azuki bean paste). Ginza Akebono map and opening hours

11. Find your stationery bliss...

If you just can’t get enough of stationery, this store is your happy place. The main building, which is scheduled to relocate in summer 2015, sells everyday stationery and Japanese calligraphy goods, while the annex building (K.Itoya) sells fountain pens, art tools, globes and so on, and also offers a picture-framing service. Itoya map and opening hours

12. Snack on the best tempura...

Arguably Tokyo’s most famous tempura restaurant, Ten-ichi serves utterly delicious tempura in a tranquil setting. The most decadent full-course meal includes 14 tempuras accompanied by sashimi, salad, rice and even a spot of dessert. Ten-ichi map and opening hours

13. Take an arty public bath...

This old-school sento boasts a high ceiling and spectacular Mt Fuji murals by Morio Nakajima, one of Japan’s leading public-bath painters. Also look out for the pretty images of koi carp adorning the Kutani-ware porcelain tiles. Komparu-yu map and opening hours

14. Paint with brushes made in Japan...

Named after husband and wife poets Tekkan and Akiko Yosano, this art supply store, which opened its doors in 1917, sells its own original products including paints, brushes and pencils. Pop down to the basement floor for the gallery and café. Gekkoso map and opening hours

15. Get your Apple fix...

The first dedicated Apple store in Japan, this store doubles as a location for both sales and tech support, and holds free product demonstrations, workshops, and special events with noted artists. Apple Store Ginza map and opening hours

16. Raise your glass...

First opened back in the 1930s, this faux-Bavarian beer hall is something of a Ginza institution, with tourists flocking to try the sausages and Sapporo beer from early in the day. Look out for the wagon carrying superb roast beef. Lion Beer Hall map and opening hours

17. Keep up to date with tech...

Sony shows off its latest inventions in the impressive showroom and events hall, where free exhibitions are held for tech geeks. Imported models are duty-free on the 'tourist floor'. Also, the Sony Imaging Gallery opened in July 2014 and lets you view works and videos managed by Sony. Sony Building map and opening hours

18. Give a traditional gift...

A shop and tea salon offering traditional Japanese sweets with a modern twist. These mini works of art work well as gifts – ask for a pairing with one of the lacquerware dishes on offer. Higashiya Ginza map and opening hours

19. Apply make-up like a pro...

The craft of brush making has been passed down in Kumano, Hiroshima for about 180 years, and this store sells the area’s unique writing, drawing and make-up brushes. The latter is a hot trend among celeb make-up artists. Kumanofude Select Shop Ginza map & opening hours

20. Sip on Brazilian coffee...

At this Brazilian-themed spot, the all-natural beans are imported directly from Brazil, keeping blend coffee prices down to ¥510, a bargain for the area. Café Paulista map and opening hours

21. Buy your dream model train...

People come from around the world for the exclusive, detailed model trains found here. They have all types, including miniature cars, and also stock a range of luxury watches and jewellery on the side. Tenshodo map and opening hours

22. Gaze at acclaimed modern art...

Tokyo’s contemporary art scene has its roots in Ginza and this gallery is renowned as one of the leading exhibitors of conceptual modern art, featuring artists such as Hiroshi Sugimoto, Rei Naito, Ryoji Ikeda, Sophie Calle and Thomas Ruff. Koyanagi Gallery map and opening hours

23. Order a custom-made kimono...

You know you’re in good hands when a shop has been going since 1775. Echigoya provides the right kimono for any occasion, budget or personality, and takes about a month to complete your order (although the obi, or belts, may take up to two months). Ginza Echigoya map and opening hours

24. Treat your tastebuds to Wagyu...

Run by the folks behind the classic Tsubame Grill, this restaurant offers superb Wagyu beef. Choose the Akami Kainiku Grill (‘Lean Meat Grill’) and you can order specific cuts for just ¥1,250 (100g). They also have a great selection of wines and German beer. Tsubameya map and opening hours

25. Collect cameras and other stuff...

A kind of hobby shop for adults, this store offers a huge selection of both imported and Japanese cameras, new and secondhand. Collectors of things like fountain pens, clocks and model railroads will also find plenty to keep them occupied. Lemonsha map and opening hours