■Tepco Ginza-kan
Next to Ginza Matsuzakaya, there is Tepco Ginza-kan.
"We have been providing various information on electricity since we opened in 1996. On the 2nd floor, we suggest the choice and usage of home electric appliances. On the 5th floor, the laboratory advisers study and experiment a variety of matters on the electric appliances."
"We are looking forward to seeing you, here." say the staff.

■Okome-no Gallery
This is the gallery of rice, which is a pilot shop that Japan Agricultural Cooperatives has opened. The shop lets people in the city area experience a better quality of rice. They have a space for self-applying beauty salon treatments, where you may help yourselves trying the natural cosmetics mainly made from rice. They also provide recipe cards of rice.

■Vestige of Shiba-guchi Gomon
Shiba-guchi Gate was built, suggested by Hakuseki Arai in 1710, when the 6th Tokugawa Shogun, Ienobu was in power. It was built to reveal Japan's national prestige to Korean Embassies. However, the Gate was burnt down 15 years later, and only the vestige is remained now.

■Monument of Willows in Ginza
Ginza is a reclaimed land, and many willows were planted here since willows have a tolerance for humidity. However, willows have been lost for natural disasters and road-expansions. The monument tells about willows in Ginza, including the lyrics of "Ginza no Yanagi" by Yaso Saijo.

■Hakuhinkan Toy Park
"Hakuhinkan Toy Park" was opened in 1982. There are about 50,000 toys available, stocked in the building from the 1st basement up to the 4th floor.
"Both children and adults may enjoy our toys. Please, come visit us," says the staff.
They also have placed the vending machines of toys on Komparu-dori Street.

■Vestige of Komparu Yashiki
The monument, put up behind the Hakuhinkan, introduces the vestige of Komparu Mansion. "Komparu" was one of the families of Noh performers that were under the immediate control of Edo Shognate. It is said that Komparu family owned a vast mansion in Ginza 8-chome at that time.

■Ginza-no Saegusa
Ginza-no Saegusa is well known for itﾕs British-taste building, founded in 1869. It is a long-established children's clothes shop, importing from France and Italy. Their tasteful apparels are also suitable for gifts.
"We suggest children's life styles through their fashion. Please, visit us," says the staff.

■Ginza Komatsu Boutique
This is Ginza Komatsu, which has been leading the fashion in Ginza since they opened in 1946. This is Ginza Komatsu Boutique that was renewed in 2002. They provide elegant clothes and accessories from about 60 brands.
"I buy-in the apparels from all over the world, mainly from New York. I hope you enjoy my selections," says the staff.

■Monument of a Poem by Takuboku Ishikawa
Takuboku Ishikawa, a famous Japanese poet worked for Tokyo Asahi Shimbun, a paper company, near Ginza 6-chome in Meiji era. There is a monument that was put up as a 60-year memorial to his death. The monument includes the poem about the paper company, written by Takuboku.

■Kuya
This is Kuya, founded in 1884. The famous monaka store moved to Ginza in 1949. Monaka is one of the typical Japanese sweets that contains bean paste wrapped in a thin and crisp rice paper. The store is well known as it is recognized in some literary writings. They strictly select the ingredients, and their monaka is free from preservatives and additives.
"Welcome to Kuya," says the owner.

■Trattoria Mezzanino of Mikasa Kaikan
"Trattoria Mezzanino," an Italian restaurant of Mikasa Kaikan Group, opened in 1988. 　They buy in fresh fish directly from Misaki Fishery Harbor in Kanagawa Prefecture, everyday. Healthy and well-arranged dishes, such as charcoal grilled cuisines and roasted cuisines, wrapped in sea salt, are popular "Misaki-ko Chokuso Sengyo Lunch" readily allow you to experience the authentic Italian.
"We cook fresh fish that is sent from Misaki everyday, with Italian touches," says the chef.

■Koikorin
There are a pair of cats' bronze statues, "Koikorin," in front of San-ai Dream-kan. The statues were erected when the Dream-kan was built in 1963. It is said that if you rub the statues, praying for your love, the cats would bring you a good result.
Ginza Matsuzakaya Parking Building with Elevators
Behind Ginza Matsuzakaya, there is a building of parking lots, which was first built in Japan in 1963. The building has elevators for cars in the center. It was built, practicing the high-level technologies that was said to be the highest standard in Europe and America at that time. The building even drew sightseers then. It has been 40 years since the building was completed, and the system still works fine.
That is all for this monthﾕs feature, "Ginza 5 to 8-chome." Please, enjoy exploring the city, and find your own interests there.

■Ginza Matsuzakaya Parking Building with Elevators
Behind Ginza Matsuzakaya, there is a building of parking lots, which was first built in Japan in 1963. The building has elevators for cars in the center. It was built, practicing the high-level technologies that was said to be the highest standard in Europe and America at that time. The building even drew sightseers then. It has been 40 years since the building was completed, and the system still works fine.
That is all for this monthﾕ' feature, "Ginza 5 to 8-chome." Please, enjoy exploring the city, and find your own interests there.