101 things to do in Ginza

26. Try your luck...

Putting a lottery stand next to a statue of Daikoku, the god of good harvest, is not a bad idea. As it turns out, this particular stand, at the central exit of Yurakucho Station, has produced an unusually large amount of winning tickets. Yurakucho Daikokuten map and opening hours

27. Run in style...

Style and sport come together at this urban lifestyle shop that sells both casualwear and running gear. Best of all it has a running station with recommended routes, lockers and a shower room. En Route Ginza map and opening hours

28. Stop for a croquette...

Choushiya claims to have created the original Japanese croquette. Founded in 1927, it still attracts queues of hungry office workers at lunchtime and, besides its famous croquettes, it also offers sandwiches and ham cutlets on request. Choushiya map and opening hours

29. Experiment with sushi styles...

In 1993, Aoki Toshikatsu Jr took over from his father as sushi chef at this vibrant restaurant and, while he upholds his family’s culinary traditions, he is also always putting new spins on Edo-style sushi. Sushi Aoki map and opening hours

30. Bag a leather purse…

The owner of this leather bag store, founded in 1874, is credited with devising the kanji character for ‘bag’ and is known for quality craftsmanship that’ll make you go ‘ooh’. Ginza Tanizawa map and opening hours

31. Pray for luck and love...

In a cranny between the skyscrapers, this statue of the god Inari stands on silent watch, attracting entertainers hoping for the blessing of success as well as people hoping for luck in love and marriage. Toyoiwa Inari Shrine map

32. Enter toy heaven...

Immerse yourself in four storeys full of Japan’s favourite toys, including stuffed animals, games and character merchandise. The shop stocks a grand total of around 200,000 items. Hakuhinkan map and opening hours

33. Nibble on northern noodles...

It may look like a simple soba shop, but it's frequented by foodies who come to sample the local cuisine of Yamagata that's sold here. The restaurant uses buckwheat flour from Yamagata in their soba noodles, with the most popular item being the 'tori soba': soba and broth served with chicken meat. Yamagatada map and opening hours

34. Find your perfect fit...

Struggling to find shoe sizes that fit? This women’s footwear store stocks sizes up to 26cm, and expert staff will measure and customise until your feet finally find their perfect made-in-Japan shoe match. Ginza Kanematsu map and opening hours

35. Act out your vampire fantasies...

Imagine Dracula invited you round for dinner – this is the kind of setting you can expect at Vampire Cafe, with its chandeliers, blood-red velvet curtains, and themed rooms like ‘Count Dracula’s Coffin’ and ‘St George’s Altar’. The cuisine is equally creative. Ginza Restaurant Vampire Cafe map and opening hours

36. Go on a shopping expedition...

Besides being one of Ginza’s leading high-end and historic department stores, Matsuya also offers lifestyle goods by local and international designers on the 7th floor as well as a fine collection of Japanese sake and foreign beers on the basement floor. Matsuya Ginza map and opening hours

37. Decorate with ukiyo-e art...

Starting out as an ukiyo-e woodcut-print publisher and dealer, this store now sells ukiyo-e prints by the likes of Hiroshige and Hokusai, along with contemporary prints by artists such as Hasui Kawase. S.Watanabe Color Print Co. map and opening hours

38. Down highballs in a retro pub...

This Showa era-style standing izakaya in Ginza Corridor-gai was the first place in Japan to introduce a highball server. They also have a diverse selection of beer, sake, shochu and wine, and their kushiyaki (grilled skewers) come highly recommended. Marugin map and opening hours

39. Satisfy your sweet tooth...

Try the speciality sweet Kuya Monaka, made of a crunchy outer shell that’s filled with home-made azuki bean paste. If they’re sold out (usually you need to reserve your order), the seasonal Japanese sweets on offer are also a treat. Kuya map and opening hours

40. Look stylish, feel comfy...

A clothing store that emphasises the Japanese tradition of producing durable, comfortable fashion. The interior is modelled on an antique shop, so even just browsing is a pleasurable experience. 45R map and opening hours

41. Toast the magic of vinyl...

Run by music producer Shinichi Osawa, this bar boasts a collection of over 3,000 records, from classics to contemporary hits, and employs top quality sound equipment to fill your night with aural pleasure. Ginza Music Bar map and opening hours

42. Add a hint of vintage to your look...

Pick up interesting Japanese antiques and curios that have survived through the ages, including things like beautifully crafted pipe cases and ornamental hairpins and accessories. Find it on the 1st floor of the Ginza 5 shopping mall. Yukari-antiques map and opening hours

43. Taste time-honoured Indian cuisine...

Nair’s Restaurant continues to produce Indian cuisine made from the same recipes used by its founder, Ayappan Pillai Mhadavan Nair, when it opened in 1949. Most of the regulars opt for the restaurant’s famous Murugi Lunch. Nair’s Restaurant map and opening hours

44. Bite into a sweet roll...

Known as the inventor of anpan (a sweet roll filled with azuki bean paste), this shop offers this confection in a variety of flavours, along with different styles of bread. Head upstairs for the café and up another flight for Restaurant Kimuraya. Ginza Kimuraya map and opening hours

45. Pop in for a sake tasting...

Stop by this liquor store for a quick (and reasonably priced) sake or wine tasting, paired with cheese and other appetisers. If you’re looking to buy, they have 200 types of both sake and shochu, and 300 types of wine to choose from. Ginza Kimijimaya map and opening hours

46. Kit out your kids...

For the ultimate Tokyo children’s clothing shopping experience, visit Ginza Sayegusa, the authority on styles for young 'uns since 1869. Housed in a four-storey Tudor-style building, this venerable establishment offers top-of-the-range goods and a made-to-order clothing service. Ginza Sayegusa map and opening hours

47. Adorn your nails with Hello Kitty...

The flagship store of Sanrio, the company that brought Hello Kitty to life, sells all kinds of character-related items; you can even get ‘animated’ nail art done at the salon (reservations recommended, extra fees apply). Sanrio World Ginza map and opening hours

48. Invest in impressive souvenirs...

You know you're doing something right when the Imperial Household is on your client list. These specialists in shippo (traditional Japanese cloisonné) are renowned for the magnificent translucent colours of their brooches, vases and other products. Ando Cloisonne map and opening hours

49. Remember a cutlet pioneer...

Tonkatsu or pork cutlet may not be what Japanese cuisine is best known for, but it sure is pretty damn tasty. Nobukatsu Shibuya had a huge impact on how the dish is thought of and eaten today, so paying gourmet tributes at the shop he founded in 1927 feels appropriate. Ginza Bairin map and opening hours

50. View diverse design...

Formed with the intention of creating a Japanese design community that invites designers, architects and critics alike to enjoy diverse exhibitions, Design Gallery 1953 showcases works by the likes of Naoto Fukasawa, Kenya Hara and Taku Satoh. Design Gallery 1953 map and opening hours