October 15, 2026 |
When I was invited to visit Tokyo again, I jumped at the chance to go back. It is like nowhere else I have travelled to. There’s a level of excellence that comes out of every part of Japanese culture, which makes it a truly magical place to visit, especially when it comes to the shopping experience. Fashion is taken to a whole other level. If fashion were a sport, Japan would hold the most Olympic gold medals every time. This trip in particular was to experience the new AC Hotel Ginza, part of the Marriott Bonvoy hotel group.
Tokyo was selected as one of eight special cities, with each destination’s itinerary designed to make the most of the hotel’s central location. Local creatives were invited to share their personal lists of “must-sees” in their cities, with just one stipulation: each recommendation had to be within 20 minutes of the hotel.
For Tokyo, we had the incredible Ryo Takashima put together a list for us and the other guests exploring the Ginza area. A Japanese fashion director and designer celebrated for his refined aesthetic and modern approach to style, Ryo’s recommendations offered a personal take on the area’s fashion, culture and lifestyle destinations. All were within easy reach of the hotel, making it easy to maximise our time in Tokyo and, in my case, make the most of its shopping scene.
Dover Street Market Ginza was first on Takashima’s list. Spread across seven floors, it brings together an impressive line-up of luxury and contemporary fashion brands, from Phoebe Philo to Palace, London’s favourite skate brand. Dover Street Market has established itself as a destination for some of the best fashion brands on Earth and its Ginza location proved no exception to this rule.
Ginza Six was slightly closer to the hotel, just five minutes away on foot. This department store gives each brand its own distinct shopping experience. Its lower-ground-floor food hall is filled with exciting discoveries, while its fashion and jewellery offerings make it a one-stop shop. The Tokyo Ginza Boutique spans two floors, with womenswear on the ground floor and menswear on the second. It houses an exciting selection of brands, many of which I had never come across on my previous travels.
The Ginza Sony Park Gallery is a space like no other. Opened at the beginning of 2025, this modern public space sits in the heart of Ginza. Its concrete atrium extends across multiple levels, offering plenty for visitors to explore. Last on our list was the Barneys New York Ginza store. For lovers of the US department store, it offers an immersive luxury shopping experience in the heart of Ginza, where the brand continues to thrive.
The AC Hotel Group has championed the idea of making the most of short breaks in cities through spots that might not have been on your radar. These are adventures that take you beyond the well-trodden paths of social media and towards something new. Other cities featured in AC’s curated 20-minute recommendations include Lima, Montreal, Portland, Glasgow, Kraków and Melbourne, and following this trip to Tokyo, I’m ready to get my passport stamped. And as the world gets smaller, perhaps we can become a little more adventurous.
Photography courtesy of AC Hotel Ginza.
