Ginza is Too Hot for Fashion
When you think of fashion in Tokyo, you think of Ginza. It’s the undisputed hub of high-end brands, where global names like Christian Dior, Gucci, and Chanel line the streets. For the city’s rich and powerful, it’s a playground of luxury boutiques and exclusive clubs—a place where a full wallet is a prerequisite.
On weekends, Tokyoites go there to indulge their shopping needs. That makes it an excellent place for street photography. I followed them on a Sunday afternoon. With my Fujifilm X-T3, I wasn’t looking for runway-ready outfits, but for the small human moments of coping with the heat: the parasols, the sweat on a forehead, or the relief under a sliver of shade.
A furnace in the concrete jungle
It was a furnace. A wave of heat hit me as I exited the Ginza subway station. Everywhere I looked, people were carrying umbrellas or portable fans. They were trying to keep cool. It was too hot for high fashion.
Ginza is the original concrete jungle. Asphalt and glass made it a heatsink. Heat reflected off everything. It felt like an oven, forcing a universal dress code of pure comfort. The day’s real fashion wasn’t on display in the shop windows, but on the street, where T-shirts and loose-fitting clothes reigned supreme.
One thing was surprising. Many people wore masks in the blazing heat despite government warnings about heatstroke. It shows the lingering concern about the disease.
Chuo-Dori: The weekend's pedestrian paradise
Ginza has many backstreets where you’ll find all sorts of shops, restaurants, and clubs. But most people head to Chuo-Dori (or Chuo Street/Road), which becomes a pedestrian mall on weekends. Walk there and throw a coin. I’m sure it’ll hit the door of a high-class brand shop. The Japanese are fashionable people. This is one place they like to hang out. I followed.
On weekends, Chuo-Dori is closed to traffic. Cars can only get across it at the intersection. Everywhere else is a pedestrian mall. Umbrellas with tables and chairs are on the road for shoppers to use. It’s nice in spring and autumn. But in the Tokyo summer, it feels oppressive.
The photographer's magnet: 4-Chome crossing
Photographers captured it. They had their big cameras and even bigger zoom lenses. Their favorite place is the 4-Chome intersection. It’s a magnet for people. On one side is the famous Wako Department Store with its clock tower. Across the road is the Nissan Showroom.
I didn’t limit myself to that area. But the further I went from the pedestrian crossing, the fewer people I saw. Maybe they didn’t want to wander far from the cool of the department stores’ air-conditioning.
Anyway, while I was walking, it gave me a chance to check out some of Ginza’s buildings. Some of its architecture is cool. The Wako Department Store, with its clock tower, is very classical. And I love the facade of the Yamaha Building. It is colorful.
Yes, I’ve criticized Tokyo’s architecture in the past. It’s a changing place, though. There were some nice new buildings in the streets surrounding Ginza’s Chuo-Dori. I’ll photograph them one day. Hopefully, it won’t be on such a hot summer day!
Conclusion
Ginza is a great place for street photography. It is bright and colorful. Many beautiful people are there. But if you go in summer, dress to be cool. Leave the high fashion at home!
Date of photos: 25 July, 2022
