The rebirth of Ginza Mitsukoshi

After undergoing a massive renovation, Ginza Mitsukoshi – a long-established department store and well-known Ginza landmark that, with its refurbished main west building and newly built east annex, now boasts one of the largest floor spaces in Yurakucho – re-opened its doors to the public on September 11. Incorporating a total of 12 floors above ground and three basement floors, the new store caters to customers looking for stylish shopping and services. Rather than being aimed entirely at a Japanese customer base, many of the goods and services on offer also cater to the visitors from overseas who flock to Ginza for its shopping. To help you through the maze of what the new ‘internationally minded’ Ginza Mitsukoshi has to offer, we’ve put together a list of a few things to look out for.

English/Chinese shopping guidance service (1F, west side)

Upon entering the first floor on the west side (through the entrance guarded by two large lion statues) you’ll be greeted by information and shopping guidance counters with staff who’ll be happy to suggest gift ideas, recommend shops and introduce a range of store related information and services. One of the services offered here is the help of foreign language-speaking personal shoppers – proficient in languages such as English and Chinese – to help guide foreign customers around the store and advise on the multitude of products on offer. Note that, since there’s only a limited number foreign speaking personal shoppers available at any one time, it might be advisable to telephone beforehand to ensure you receive the service you need.

Secure bicycle parking (B1/B2, east side)

As a result of a number of new high-rise apartment buildings popping up around Ginza (in areas such as Toyosu and Shibaura), the number of cyclists in the area is on the up and up. In response to this, Ginza Mitsukoshi has positioned enough bicycle parking spaces within their first and second level basement floors to accommodate 192 bicycles – thereby creating the largest dedicated bicycle parking space in Ginza. Since each bicycle space comes with a dedicated locking system, there’s no need to worry about your bicycle being stolen while you’re busy shopping.

Two food halls (B2/B3)

Basement food halls in Japan are commonly referred to as depachika and usually contain a multitude of small independent food counters. However, in true Ginza style, the food halls at Ginza Mitsukoshi expand on the general concept of a regular depachika to offer a few extras. These expansions include the Chef’s Stage dining area (that not only offers a special seasonal eat-in menu, but also provides customers with free recipes), and Satie chocolate shop (with a service offering customers the chance to order customisations such as writing and illustrations made using white chocolate for chocolates made with 72% cocoa). On the second basement floor, you’ll find a superb range of western and Japanese confectionary counters – some of which offer confectionary that can only be bought here at Ginza Mitsukoshi. Ameya Eitaro, a counter dedicated to selling sweets from Eitaro Sohonpo (a confectionary shop with over 150 years of history, based in Nihonbashi), offer a strawberry flavoured (any coloured) sweet called ‘Ginza’s Pure Strawberry’ that can only be bought – as the name suggests – here in Ginza, and Ginza Myori Kokon, a counter dedicated to selling confectionary from Bunmeido (a company celebrating their 110th anniversary this year), who offer rusk-like biscuits made using pieces of baumkuchen.

Cosmetic comparison and information facility (B1, west side)

For some women, looking for the right brand of cosmetic can be a real pleasure; for others, it can seem more like a never-ending headache of trudging from counter to counter. With this in mind, Mitsukoshi have put together a special product-sampling area (located on the first basement level on the west side of the store), called Cosme Information, which brings together a variety of different brand-name cosmetics – both foreign and Japanese made – into one place. Approximately 2m in length, the counter offers the chance to test products in a particular theme which changes at regular intervals. If you’re looking for better hands-on insight into the colour, texture or scent of a range of different brand name cosmetics without all the trudging, this could be a real boon.

Tax refund assistance centre for foreign visitors and ATM for UnionPay cards (mezzanine, east side)

Mitsukoshi Ginza’s new information centre for foreign visitors employs English and Chinese speaking staff and, in addition to floor guides, also offers sightseeing guidebooks and local maps in seven different languages. As well as supplying information regarding Ginza, the staff here will also happily assist with queries regarding access to other famous areas, such as Tsukiji and Asakusa. They’ll even help with information regarding where to obtain same-day kabuki tickets.

Stylish new Japanese brand area (3F, west side)

Products from top brands such as Channel, Gucci and Hermès are readily available in just about all of the world’s major cities, however if you’re after something from a brand created by a Japanese designer, then the very best place to look is undoubtedly a Japanese department store. If you’re in the market for something even more specific, say an item of women’s clothing by a Japanese designer, then Ginza Mitsukoshi’s new Le Playcé (third floor, west side) should be on your list of places to check. In addition to offering an excellent selection of fashionable brands that are currently taking the fashion world by storm, such as Kaon, Muller of Yoshiokubo and Dictionary, there’s also a Tully’s coffee shop on the same floor, where you can sit back and take a break from all that tough decision-making.

Humidor (6F, west side)

On the sixth floor on the west side of the store, situated in the corner of a menswear section, is an area offering as many as 200 different varieties of cigars and an elegant display of Cuban, Dominican and Nicaraguan brands in a giant walk-in humidor. Immediately behind the humidor, is a special area reserved for cigar sampling – something you’ll be hard pressed to find in any other department store.

Men’s relaxation and grooming (7F)

In addition to offering menswear and accessories, the seventh floor has a corner offering various brands of aftershave and men’s health products. Additionally, there’s also a special Grooming Room for men that offers haircuts, shampoos, facials and hand treatments, and even eyebrow trimming (at ¥1,000 for 10 minutes) and nail care (at ¥2,000 for 20 minutes) – perfect for any man out there who is either aiming at perfection or looking to pass some time whilst your significant other goes about her (or his) shopping activities.

Terrace and garden area (9F)

Situated on the ninth floor is an outdoor space called Ginza Terrace. On the west side you’ll find a garden area (including a sizeable lawn), and on the east side you’ll find various facilities including a café, restaurant, crèche and a lounge area reserved for parents with children. Built to help fulfil the need for more relaxation spaces in Ginza, the main section of the terrace is open until 11pm. Additionally, the space also boasts its very own jizo statues (depicting one of Japan’s most loved divinities) dubbed ‘Ginza Shusse Jizo’ – said to date back to the Meiji period – and a small auxiliary shrine known as Mimeguri Jinja Ginza Sessha, that offers guests the chance to draw omikuji (fortunes). Interestingly, thanks to its current resting place at a level that’s 31 metres above ground level (despite being previously lost during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and the Pacific War) the Ginza Shusse Jizo has become known as a symbol of success and hope.

World-class dining (11F/12F)

The 11th and 12th floors are all about dining and include a number of restaurants that can’t be found anywhere else in Japan and/or Tokyo. In addition to various typically Japanese foods such as sushi, soba, udon and tonkatsu, you’ll also find various cuisines from around the world, including Italian, French, Chinese (even yum cha and Szechuan cuisine) and Thai food. Of particular note, is a Japanese restaurant called Shakunage, by the fourth head of Miyamasou (a famous Japanese-style restaurant and inn located in Hanase, Kyoto), that offers guests the chance to experience quintessential Kyoto-style cuisine that follows traditions such as making the most out of the natural flavours of the ingredients, cooking rice in Kyoto-style stoves (known as okudosan) and carefully choosing the tableware in which the food is served. Furthermore, the restaurant also boasts its very own terrace, offering guests the chance to savour an elegant bite to eat outdoors.