Never mind if you’re not a mall rat. Make sure to pop into the newly opened Ginza Six mall. This may just be Japan’s coolest shopping complex to date and, trust us, it’s not only for shopaholics.
The elegant shopping center is a rich man’s paradise, packed as it is with boutiques of the world’s top brands flaunting fresh-from-the-runway merchandise. But those with shallow pockets will also find Ginza Six an enjoyable experience. Lovers of architecture will go crazy over the mall’s design, envisioned by celebrated architect Yoshio Taniguchi, who is lauded for how he redesigned the MoMA in 2004. For Ginza Six, Taniguchi took inspiration from traditional Japanese structural motifs.
Bookworms who would catch the train to Daikanyama just to get to the larger-than-life Tsutaya bookstore will love that Ginza Six also has a Tsutaya book haven on its sixth floor. For art lovers, the mall doubles as a free art gallery—Yayoi Kusuma’s gigantic polka-dot pumpkins hang from the ceiling in the central hall. They’re so visible that you can easily take a selfie from anywhere in the mall. An awe-inspiring virtual waterfall by visual design collaborative TeamLab dominates one corner in the mall, while a Noh theater shows Japanese traditional theatrical performances in the basement level (this one is not free, though).
If you don’t fancy any of the above, just skip the lower floors and ride the elevator to the rooftop on the 13th floor and find yourself in what is probably Ginza’s highest outdoor garden, offering 360-degree views of Tokyo’s most expensive neighborhood. Visiting the garden is free of charge, but Vogue Lounge awaits on one corner to ply you with elegant food and drinks.
Bonus: Not far from Ginza Six is Issey Miyake’s newest flagship store (Chuo Road, Ginza. Open daily 11:00-20:00), which peddles, aside from the brand’s latest collection and Bao Bao accessories, those turtleneck pullovers worn by Steve Jobs. (Yes, those black turtlenecks the Apple founder always wore were Issey Miyake.)
> Ginza Six, Chuo Road, Ginza. Open daily 10:30-20:30
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