Let's walk around the pier! There may be new discoveries!?
Let's walk around the pier!
A leisurely Cruise Tour[Straw ring around the Pier]Nihonbashi
- Walking and Shopping at "Nihonbashi" where one thousand ryo (old monetary unit) are moved in one single day
- It was said that "Nihonbashi" was a place where one thousand ryo are moved in one single day. If "One thousand ryo" is converted into the current amount, it will be "50 - 100 million yen"! Continuing from the era of "Nihonbashi Fish Coast", dried bonito shavings "Ninben", seaweed "Yamamoto Nori Store", let's walk together through Edo's shopping street, such as "Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi" which is developed from a Kimono shop.
"Nihonbashi" is just above "Nionbashi Pier". The bridge was open in 1603. It was the same year when Tokugawa Ieyasu opened the Shogunate in Edo. Later on, the left-over of the seafood presented to the Tokugawa family was sold under the "Nihonbashi", which became "Nihonbashi Fish Coast" later. At the north side of the bridge, there is "monument for the birthplace of Nihonbashi fish market". By the way, "Nihonbashi Kosatsuba Site" is across the bridge.
At the same time, it was established as the starting point of "The Five Routes". People from all over the country came to visit "Nihonbashi", which made it more and more prosperous. When it came to the era of Meiji, department stores such as "Shirakiya (current Tokyu department store)" and "Mitsui Echigoya kimono store (current Mitsukoshi)" appeared. Then it was developed as the center of Japanese economy.
First of all, let's look at the department store which is the nearest to "Nihonbashi" - "Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store". By the way, the main building has been designated as an important cultural property of the country in 2016.
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store
Founded in 1673, the kimono shop "Echigoya" announced "Declaration of Department Store" in 1904. It was born as the first department store in Japan. Now there are "guide" and "concierge" resident on each floor to provide "hospitality" to customers.
- Address
- 1-4-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Telephone
- 03-3241-3311
Both the new building and the main building have plenty of highlights. "Reception" has been set up in the 1st floor central hall of main building. Resident "Guide" can listen to your request, and guide you to the best "concierge". The resident concierge on each floor provides service to accompany customers while shopping. In order to help you choose suitable goods, "hospitality" is provided such as color diagnosis, which is exceeding the department store service area.
Let's move the building in front of the "Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store" acrossing Chuo street, "COREDO Muromachi" has been a sightseeing spot in "Nihonbashi" area in recent years. In the wide area including "COREDO Muromachi 1", "COREDO Muromachi 2" and "COREDO Muromachi 3", you may feel it like a "street" rather than a commercial facility.
COREDO Muromachi
The concept is "To enliven Japan, Nihonbashi". There are more than 100 stores on site, including the first large-scale cinema complex of Nihonbashi, a wide variety of shops from old business style to new one. In addition to lunch and dinner, there are also many takeout shops, and you will be able to enjoy the hot gourmet just by walking around.
- Address
- 2-2-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Telephone
- 03-3242-0010
Originally in the "Nihonbashi" area, there were many old restaurants for eating and drinking. However, on the other hand, because it is also an office town, there were very few places providing meals and alcohol until late night. But since the open of "COREDO Muromachi", it seems that the bustle of night like the Edo period is coming back.
Next let's cross the "Nihonbashi" and go south. The first commercial facility that can be seen is "COREDO Nihonbashi". Although it is not a large-scale facility like "COREDO Muromachi", its character is that there are plenty of unique shops such as Only-One shop across the entire life scenes of "cloth, food, housing and play" .
COREDO Nihonbashi
COREDO Nihonbashi was opened in 2004. The theme is "Beyond the time". While making full use of the tradition of department stores and established old stores, modern styles are also proposed. Furthermore, the 3rd floor is a floor that condenses the beauty shops where "you can get full body care by a stop-by". It is a space for women where they want to come every day.
- Address
- 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Telephone
- 03-3272-4801
Going further south, you will see "Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C.". In the main building which has been designated as an important cultural property of the country, a retro elevator operated manually by female guide still exists. Furthermore, free tour with guide of the concierge which shows the inside of the building is available. This historic building is worth seeing.
Also in the new building which was opened in 2018, there are plenty of stores including gourmet and popular shops, such as the first store which was opened outside of Hokkaido of "Natsume", a popular store from Sapporo Hokkaido, "N2 Brunch Club", a restaurant that was created by "N2 Extreme Gelato" (the popular gelato shop in Sydeney) together with the powerful chefs, etc.
Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C.
In addition to the main building of the flagship store, "Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C." consists of a total of four of the new building, East building, Takashimaya Watch Masison. During shopping time, you can also elegantly enjoy the history, culture and art. And you can also enjoy the new value and style of Nihonbashi, like a cafe that you can walk in casually or a cozy all-day dining etc.
- Address
- 2-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Telephone
- 03-3211-4111
This time we mainly introduced department stores and commercial facilities, but there are still many shopping spots in the "Nihonbashi" area. Moreover, shops that provide those in the good old tradition are still alive, such as Edo Komon of yukata and towel, Edo-style "eel", "sushi", "tempura", "soba" etc.
Of course, "Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store", "COREDO Muromachi" and "Nihonbashi Takashimaya" also have well-established stores representing "Nihonbashi". You would not want to miss them.
It has been over 400 years since Tokugawa Ieyasu opened the Shogunate in Edo, and built the "Nihonbashi". While the scenery of the street is changing, it seems that the appearance of "Nihonbashi" that many people are crossing and exchanging may not change in the past and even now.
