Tsutaya Ginza, located inside Ginza Six, will hold an exhibition of new works from artist Yasunari Ikenaga starting September 25, 2021. Titled ‘Shonen, Shou,’ the pieces in the collection were all inspired by up-and-coming actor and model Shou. 

Physical Education, Shou – Yasunari Ikenaga. 2021. 

Glaring, Honami – Yasunari Ikenaga. 2015

Yasunari Ikenaga is a leading figure in the world of contemporary beauty painting. In 2012, he won Honorable Mention at the 8th Tatehiko Suga Grand Prize Exhibition, which attracted a great deal of attention in the art world and established the genre of contemporary beauty painting. Ikenaga’s paintings are characterized by their unique coloring, which is created by using mineral-based pigments. This style, as individual as the models he paints, has a uniqueness and presence that has redefined the art of painting human beings in the Japanese art world. 

‘Shonen, Shou’ is an exhibition focusing on new model and actor Shou, born in 2006. This is the first time Ikenaga has used a boy as his muse, and various prints of past works will also be on display during the event. 

Benzaiten opened its first store in 2019 and since then has opened over 50 branches up and down Japan. The confectionery brand, which specialises in fruit-filled daifuki, has now opened a new store inside Tokyo’s luxury shopping centre GINZA SIX.

Yellow Papaya | ¥950 (Tax Included)

Tayo no Tamago Red Mango | ¥1,500 (Tax Included)

Fig | ¥1,000 (Tax Included)

Kiwi | ¥650 (Tax Included)

Benzaiten has over 10 types of fresh seasonal fruits ordered in from the market every day to make their daifuku with, most of which use the entire fruit. They are very particular about the mochi used to make the daifuku to ensure the original delicious flavour of the fruit is maintained and maximises. They use two layers of high quality white bean paste and habutai to hand-prepare the daifuku every day.

THE GRAND GINZA in Tokyo is getting ready for Valentine’s Day and White Day with the revealing of its new afternoon tea menu which will be served from February 1 to March 31.

The “Pink Afternoon Tea” is a combination of succulent strawberries and fruity ruby chocolate, which is the fourth type of chocolate alongside milk, dark, and white. It includes a ruby hot chocolate for staying warm during these cold winter months, strawberry macarons, strawberries to dip in ruby chocolate, strawberry quiche curry, and other unique items for a mix of sweet and savoury. There’s also a strawberry mille-fuille made with a recipe by Ginza’s famous French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris.

There are also 18 drinks to choose from including 13 types of teas from TWG. It’s a must-visit for Valentine’s Day.

GINZA SIXーthe largest shopping complex in Ginzaーhas unveiled some of the incredible desserts arriving for this spring only.

Ginza is famous for its host of restaurants which serve up gorgeously gourmet food throughout the four seasons, and so you can expect GINZA SIX’s line-up to be something special. Let’s take a look.

Strawberry Sweet Afternoon Tea – ¥4,200 (Before Tax) @ THE GRAND GINZA

“Shun’un” pecial Make Maruto Parfait – ¥2,300 (Before Tax) @ Nakamura Tokichi Honten Ginza

Strawberry Mix Candy – ¥593 (Before Tax) @ Candy Art Museum by PAPABUBBLE

The line-up of delectable treats at GINZA SIX won’t just satisfy your sweet tooth, but your eyes too due to their delightful appearanceーlike the strawberry and roses littered afternoon tea, or the strawberry candy which is made using only the best available strawberries. The shops and restaurants at GINZA SIX have ensured to prepare sweets that will bring spring to mind Japanese springtime and the pink cherry blossoms.

Matcha Ganache – ¥1,800 (Before Tax) @ Tsujiri

Matcha & Tamba Azuki Bean Cake – ¥2,600 (Before Tax) @ Marlowe

Kurozu Vinegar Raw Chocolate – ¥1,500 (Before Tax) @ Shoubunsu Vinegar Brewery

Other tantalising treats include more Japanese-tasting selections, like cookies injected with a rich matcha ganache, raw chocolate doused with kurozu vinegar, gluten-free pound cake made with freshly-made Uji matcha, and more.

Of course, since this is a spring line-up, there are flowery fusions to find too, like candy topped with edible flowers and rose flavoured frozen fruit bars.

Rose & Raspberry – ¥520 (Before Tax) @ PALETAS

Spring Edible Flower Lollipops – ¥555 (Before Tax) @ Candy Art Museum by PAPABUBBLE

Aya Farm Saku Mango Selection – ¥3,800 (Before Tax) @ Aya Farm

If you’re in Tokyo for spring, the cherry blossoms and hanami, then be sure to stop by GINZA SIX to indulge yourself this season.

A new piece of installation art is coming to GINZA SIX, the largest shopping centre in Tokyo’s Ginza fistrict, next month. From February 27, Japanese artist Tokujin Yoshioka’s “Prismatic Cloud” will adorn the stairwell until the end of October.

Tokujin Yoshioka is a Japanese artist whose grand and poetic nature-themed work has received international praise. His skills include art, design, and architecture, which are being put to use to give GINZA SIX a new face for 2020, the year of the Tokyo Olympics and therefore year in which many people from around the world are sure to flock to Tokyo’s upmarket and luxurious district.

Prismatic Cloud is an enormous light sculpture inspired by clouds and the fundamentals of nature. It was originally showcased at the Allen Center in Houston, US, and has been arranged once more for it’s Japan debut. It stretches an incredible 10 meters long and is made from 10,000 prism rods which are layered together, making light penetrate through them to look infinite. Its appearance changes depending where you view it from, both your position and your line of sight in relation to it.

GINZA SIX’s stairwell is a symbol of the shopping centre, and it has become an art program filled with creativity and energy, with many international artists having displayed their works there, including Yayoi Kusama, Daniel Buren, Nicolas Buffe, Chiharu Shiota, and Klaus Haapaniemi. Prismatic Cloud is being overseen by Mori Art Museum, who also supervised Kusama, Buren, and Shiota’s work. While these installations are set up for a limited time, GINZA SIX also houses some permanent artwork around the complex by artists from around the world.

GINZA SIX—officially the biggest shopping complex in Tokyo’s high-end Ginza district—is home to a host of restaurants now serving some seriously luxurious and gourmet winter food.

For the winter season only, the shopping centre’s cafes and restaurants have cooked up menus of food to warm both the heart and body. The extravagant line-up is made up of carefully-selected seasonal ingredients that’s sure to warm you to the core. Let’s take a select look at some of the things on offer.

JASMINE Specially-Made Hotpot Plan – ¥7,800 (Before Tax) @ JASMINE Washinkansai

This hot pot is made with a broth of chicken bones and collagen boiled in water and a broth of mala sauce. Both broths have a deep and nourishing taste and are filled with carefully-chosen ingredients as well as nine condiments for complex flavours. As well as that seen in the photo above, it is served as a set with an appetiser, fried gyoza, Chinese-style noodles, and almond tofu.

Matsusaka Beef Sukiyaki Gozen Hotpot – ¥3,400 @ Sukiyaki Gyu-shabu Matsuju

Warm yourself up with this hot pot which is made sukiyaki-style and contains high-quality Matsusaka beef picked out by Asahiya, a shop specialising in Matsusaka beef. The beef is soft, tender, and has a rich sweet taste and fragrance. It’s served with a red miso soup seasoned with Japanese pepper which complements the salty-sweetness of the sukiyaki.

Homemade Sausage and Potato Raclette Cheese Melt – ¥2,400 (Before Tax) @ Bistro AUX AMIS

Raclette cheese is a staple food in France during the winter. This delicious dish is served with juicy homemade sausages made from yoshidabuta pig from Saitama, bacon, potato, and warm veg, all covered in a hot melted cheese. It’s sure to warm you up and goes even better with a glass of wine.

Once you’ve had a fill of lunch or dinner, you should go and check out the in-season strawberry takeout treats and desserts that are being sold on the booth floor where the latest in culinary trends gather.

Strawberry Chocolate Sandwich – ¥300 (Before Tax) @ Patisserie Sembikiya Ginza Six

Coated in white chocolate, this biscuit sandwich is made with a strawberry ganache that squeezes every last delicious drop out of the fresh strawberries. Combined with he raspberry sablé cookies and chocolate, it’s a strawberry match made in heaven.

Real Strawberry Gummies – ¥1,050 for 3 @ Candy Art Museum by PAPABUBBLE

These gummy candies are made as big as real large strawberries. They are coated in chocolate and made with lots of real strawberry juice, and when bitten into, taste fresh and juicy.

Strawberry Matcha Daifuku – ¥400 Each @ Kurogi Chacha

Kurogi Chacha’s Strawberry Matcha Daifuku are filled with a whole fresh strawberry and coated in a matcha-laced white bean paste and gyūhi, a form of Japanese confection. The rich taste of the matcha comes together with the sweet and sour strawberry to create a delicious combination. They are hand-wrapped fresh as soon as your order is put in to retain their freshness.

Enjoy the full course winter has to offer at GINZA SIX, from soul-warming hotpot dishes to strawberry delights and more.

Roppongi Hills will be kicking off the New Year’s celebrations from January 1 to 3, 2020 with New Year’s good fortune around every corner. 

January 1 will be filled with exciting lion dances and Japanese drum performances. January 2 and 3 will see traditional and nostalgic games that are free to play, providing fun for the whole family. 

Restaurants and cafés will be serving New Year’s food themed around good fortune, happiness, good omens and new beginnings. Indulge on Spiny Lobster, fatty tuna, sea bream and many other luxurious “good fortune” foods.

Spiny Lobster and Sea Bream Acqua Pazza (Limit of 15 sold per day): ¥3,278

Mohri Salvatore Cuomo

Colourful Chirashizushi Pintokona (Limit of 10 sold per day): ¥2,020

Angus Beef Steak Burger (Limit of 15 sold per day): ¥2,800
AS Classics Diner

Crêpe 2020 (Limit of 10 sold per day): ¥980
Cafe Crepe

There are also New Year’s “Fukubukuro” to look out for. This is a Japanese New Year’s custom where “lucky bags” are filled with unknown contents and sold at a substantial discount. There are even January sales with items up to 70% off. Travel agency H.I.S. Co., Ltd. is bringing back their yearly dream holiday package which includes a top-quality resort lodge in the Savanna and safari experience for just ¥4 million.

Have a wonderful New Year’s celebration at Roppongi Hills.

Winter may be cold, but that’s no excuse to stay indoors all day when there’s so many seasonal events and festivals to be enjoyedーespecially in Japan. With Christmas and New Year’s just on the horizon, it’ll soon be time to begin preparations for Valentine’s Day.

GINZA SIX is the biggest shopping centre in Ginza, a district itself which prides itself as the high end part of Tokyo. Seeing as Ginza is home to many internationally-known chocolatiers, you can bet that GINZA SIX is sure to deliver when it comes to high-quality Valentine’s chocolates and sweets. And you’d be right in thinking that, because the shopping complex is ready to showcase some of the delectable delights set to pose in all of their delicious glory during the season of love. Whether it’s a treat to some premium chocolate to your special someone, or a bit of self-indulgence, GINZA SIX has you covered this coming Valentine’s Day.

But that’s not all, because a string of pop-up shops are going to open too. Let’s take a peek into what’s to come.

Premium sweets made with the “4th type of chocolate”

We all know dark, milk, and white chocolate, but many people are still unaware of ruby chocolate. Made from ruby cocoa beans, the chocolate was officially unveiled in 2017, and is marketed as the “4th category” of chocolate. It will come as no surprise then that GINZA SIX will be making use of this still rare chocolate, as well as “blonde” chocolateーyet another unfamiliar type.

Valrhona Blonde Chocolate Plate With Jasmine Scent – ¥1,200 @ THE GRAND GINZA

Blonde chocolate’s characteristic quality lies in its combination of caramel and biscuit. The chocolate artisans over at Valrhona, a Japanese chocolate company savoured by some of the world’s top patissiers, have forged a blonde chocolate dome dessert injected with a raspberry puree and sweet vanilla mousse. The dessert is sat on a bed of crunchy crumble and surrounded with a pool of jasmine-scented blonde chocolate cream. This one’s for the adults to enjoy.

Ruby Saku Langue de Chat (12 Pack) – ¥1,200 @ ISHIYA GINZA

For a limited time only, ISHIYA GINZA’s langue de chat, also known as cat tongue biscuits, arrive in a ruby chocolate flavour. They took their delicious cat tongues and sandwiched smooth and sour ruby chocolate between them.

Japanese-style chocolates

These next chocolates are made with the Japanese spirit and palate in mind.

Kurosu Vinegar Raw Chocolate – ¥1,500 @ Shoubunsu Vinegar Brewery

Kurosu vinegar is smooth and doesn’t have a strong flavour or smell. It goes well with these chocolates from the Shoubunsu Vinegar Brewery, including their slightly bitter milk chocolate and white chocolate with soy milk. Each bite offers a sweet, refreshing flavour.

Textural chocolates

If you’re here for the texture, then you’ve come to the right place. From a dessert that combines light pound cake with rich mousse to a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate terrine, GINZA SIX has no shortage of sweets with tempting textures.

Rouge – ¥2,315 @ Patisserie Pavlov

This dessert is made with pound cake and rich mousse and is lavish with ganache. It’s covered with a strawberry chocolate coating and finished with an artisanal chocolate decoration.

Chocolate Terrine – ¥6,000 @ FRANCK MULLER GENEVE

Luxurious is the word to describe this chocolate terrine, a heavenly mix of Swiss dark chocolate and tasty cultured butter, resulting in a complex flavour profile of richness and melt-in-the-mouth sweetness.

Dine-in Valentine’s menu

Another way to enjoy your time at GINZA SIX for Valentine’s 2020 is to sit down at one of the cafes or restaurants to enjoy one of their exclusive Valentine’s Day menu items, such as an afternoon tea. It’s a great way to spend your time with your loved one or as a get-together for all the singles out there!

La Saint-Valentin Afternoon Tea Sets – ¥4,200 (Serves 1) @ THE GRAND GINZA

“Noir & Blanc” (Black/White) is the theme of these afternoon tea sets, which come in two different colours and are towered with strawberry-packed sweets and savoury snacks. Will you go for the stylish noir, or the sophisticated blanc?

Coppa Valentine – ¥1,819 @ Café Cova Milano

Served in a wine glass, this strawberry dessert is a layered combination of sweet and sour strawberry sorbet, chocolate ice cream, and strawberry sauce. It’s topped with heart-shaped chocolate and a rose bell.

Limited-time pop-up shops

CAFÉ COVA (GINZA SIX Floor B2F) 

CAFÉ COVA has lots of incredible surprises for the Valentine’s season next year, including a chocolate box wrapped in beautiful packaging, as well as the above-pictured heart and rose panettone (which, by the way, they’ll only be selling a select few of!)

Paul Smith POP UP SHOP (GINZA SIX Floor 4F) / Open November 27, 2019 – January 14, 2020

IDEAS FROM LONDON is a pop-up shop by Paul Smith that’s set to bring ideas from the UK to Japan. See their new fashion collection, special collaborative items, and more.

This is just a select look at what’s to come when the season of love hits GINZA SIX. Make sure you don’t miss out.

2019 is the year of BABYMETAL, with their latest album METAL GALAXY having dropped in October and making them the highest Japanese group/artist to place on the Billboard Top 200 in the US in 56 years. As they continue knee-deep in their ongoing world tour, you might be wondering what else they have in the pipeline.

Well, we can confirm that for you right here and now: they have teamed up with internationally-lauded Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto on his revolutionary Ground Y collection which boasts a genderless and ageless style.

Pre-sales of the collection will take place at the new Shibuya PARCO which is set to open on November 22. This will be followed by sales at GINZA SIX, Laforet Harajuku, and the online store THE SHOP YOHJI YAMAMOTO.

The collection will bring together the unique world of BABYMETALーa band which has won love the world over and has featured as guest acts on many tours of international artistsーand Yohji Yamamoto, a rebel and innovator in the fashion industry whose DNA is woven into the Ground Y line. The inspiration for this jet black collaborative collection is “galaxy,” an homage to BABYMETAL’s latest record METAL GALAXY.

There are numerous items in the collection, including a jumbo cut and sewn embroidered with both the BMD FOX APPAREL logoーBABYMETAL’s official apparel brandーand the Ground Y logo. There’s also a big hoodie featuring a 360° print and BABYMETAL’s logo, a draped silk satin long shirt, and more.

MASATOSHI YAMASHIRO snapped the photos in this photoshoot, a Tokyo-based photographer who started his career in LA and New York and works with fashion magazines, advertisements, and more.

Kurogi Chacha, a restaurant in GINZA SIX, is serving up an all-new ochazuke (green tea poured over rice) dish made with gyokuro, a high-quality green tea, and caviar. It will be served for a limited time for the whole month of November.

Gyokuro Caviar Chazuke – ¥20,000 (Before Tax)

Kurogi Chacha is a restaurant made in collaboration with Kyoto’s long-standing tea company Fukujuen and Kurogi which has been called the hardest restaurant in Japan to reserve a table at due to the sheer number of reservations.

The new Gyokuro Caviar Chazuke is made with rich caviar and fine quality gyokuro tea which adds a refreshing taste to the dish. One bowl is served with an entire 30g can of caviar so you can enjoy its full flavour.

If you find yourself in the Tokyo’s high-end district of Ginza then don’t pass up this opportunity to wine and dine at Kurogi Chacha.

Ginza’s biggest shopping complex GINZA SIX is celebrating Christmas this year with an upcoming event entitled “Celebration of Life: Hoshi no Umi no Shukusai” (A Festival Under a Sea of Stars) which will take place from November 5, 2019 to December 25, 2019.

Celebration of Life: Hoshi no Umi no Shukusai

The visuals for “Celebration of Life: Hoshi no Umi no Shukusai” were created by Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi. The work is titled “Astral Sea” and Haapaniemi arranged the art specifically for the event. It features animals and living beings floating through space amongst the stars, each moving to the rhythm of the stars’ revolution. With this grand work, Haapaniemi has created a new myth that makes one think of space and how it connections to the lives of humans.

The space and time-transcending “Lightning Whales” which appear in the Astral Sea will be suspended from the shopping centre’s atrium, and tapestries of Haapaniemi will also be draped down the centre, turning GINZA SIX itself into its own Astral Sea. The 10-meter long Lightning Whales floats have been designed in such a way that it looks like they are flying through space. Additional artwork can also be found in the front entrance, show window on floor B2F, and elsewhere.

Klaus Haapaniemi x GINZA SIX Christmas Collaboration Items

Several stores inside GINZA SIX are also releasing items in collaboration with Haapaniemi.

Mimuro Sugi Junmai Daiginjo Imadeya Ginza Limited Edition Model – ¥3,000 @ Imadeya Ginza

This Junmai Daiginjo is part of the Mimuro Sugi Roman Series developed by a sake brewery in Nara. This transparent drink retains the delicate flavour of the rice and leaves a beautiful lingering aftertaste. It’s best enjoyed with some tasty food.

Available: November 5, 2019 – February 29, 2020 (While supplies last)

Lightning Whales Frozen Fruit Bar – ¥600 @ PALETAS

These new frozen fruit bars from PALETAS are inspired by Haapaniemi’s Lightning Whales. The bar’s fantastic colouring is taken from the Astral Sea, while its flavour is blueberry gelato with salt. It’s decorated with gold leaf and silver leaf.

Available: November 5, 2019 – January 31, 2020

Gloves – Whale Embroidery ¥9,000 / Swan Embroidery ¥10,000 @ Ginza Tsutaya Book Store

Gloves are a must-have during winter, and these ones come with whale and swan embroidery. You’re sure to grab people’s attention with these gorgeous fits.

Available: November 8, 2019 – December 25, 2019

*Listed prices don’t include tax. Items subject to change without notice.

Christmas Cake & Party Food

Ginza is known for its long list of gourmet restaurants, serving food from around the world. This holiday season, GINZA SIX has plenty of Christmas delights lined up.

Noel Neige – ¥4,630 @ Pavlov Pâtisserie

This gorgeous, light cake uses cream for its snowy landscape, topped with bright-red strawberries.

Panettone Babbo Natale – ¥7,407 @ Café Cova Milano

Cova’s panettone is made with a secret recipe that has been handed down since the beginning of the 19th century.

Assorted Mini Sandwiches – ¥3,704

This assortment of mini sandwiches are the perfect choice for Christmas parties, filled with a variety of delicious ingredients like smoked salmon, caviar, pastrami, and more.

*Listed prices don’t include tax.

This is just a small look at what GINZA SIX has in store for this Christmas. If you’re spending the holiday season in Tokyo, be sure to stop by.

Ginza’s biggest shopping centre GINZA SIX has announced that it’s set to light up its rooftop garden with an enchanting illumination event titled Rooftop Star Garden which will begin on November 26 and run until February 24 next year.

Standing at 56 meters high, the rooftop garden is the “closest place to the stars” in Ginza. This will be GINZA SIX’s first ever illumination event and it will shine a bright spotlight against the nightscape of Ginza’s streets.

Rooftop Star Garden will take place in two areas in the garden: the Water Fountain Area and the Forest Area, both of which will welcome star-themed light shows.

The theme of the Water Fountain Area is “Shooting Star,” whose LED lights will elicit a sense of profoundness in its observers. 147 LED lights will form the main monument of this area, with bright, sparkling illuminations that will remind one of shooting and twinkling stars.

The Forest Area is made up of two separate areas between the Water Fountain Area. Lasers will shoot through crystals, creating an ocean of countless specks of light that look like little stars that make it feel like you’re in space.

This limited-time event is the perfect way to spend this year’s Christmas, so don’t miss out.

*Photos are for illustrative purposes only