🌸 Overview & Character
Chūō City is one of Tokyo’s core downtown areas, home to Ginza, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi, Tsukiji, Yaesu, and Tsukishima (including Kachidoki and Harumi).
It was founded in 1947 through the merger of the former Nihonbashi and Kyobashi wards, and its name literally means “central.”
From the Edo period onward, the area flourished as Japan’s commercial and cultural hub.
Today, Chūō balances business, shopping, waterfront living, and rich heritage — a compact fusion of Work・Life・Play✨
⛩ Symbol of the Ward: Nihonbashi — The Starting Point of Japan’s Roads
Built during the early Edo era, Nihonbashi served as the starting point of the five major highways of old Japan.
At its center stands the “Road Origin Marker (Kilometer Zero),” designating Japan’s official distance base.
The current stone arch bridge was completed in 1911.
A large-scale undergrounding project is underway to remove the expressway that covers the bridge, restoring open skies and historical views.
Plans to convert the adjacent Tokyo Expressway (KK Line) into a pedestrian promenade are also in motion, symbolizing the rebirth of heritage in a modern cityscape🌉
📜 Historical Highlights
・Edo Era: Nihonbashi thrived as a trade hub; river transport along the Sumida and Tsukiji fish markets fueled Edo’s prosperity🐟
・Meiji–Taishō: Japan’s first department-store culture blossomed — Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store (completed 1935) remains iconic🏬
・1923: After the Great Kanto Earthquake, the fish market moved to Tsukiji (later Tsukiji Market)
・Postwar–Today: Ginza’s rebirth, rapid business development, Nihonbashi’s modern revitalization, and new waterfront housing projects continue in parallel
🌟 Main Area Highlights
💎 Ginza – Where tradition meets trend
Luxury boutiques, flagship stores, and theatres fill the streets.
Landmarks include GINZA SIX (opened 2017) and the rebuilt Kabuki-za Theatre (2013).
🏦 Nihonbashi & Kyobashi – History and innovation intertwined
Heritage architecture like Mitsukoshi Main Store and Mitsui Main Building coexist with modern sites such as COREDO Muromachi and Artizon Museum, opened in 2020.
🚉 Yaesu & Kabutochō – Gateway to Tokyo Station & Japan’s Wall Street
Located east of Tokyo Station, the area hosts the Tokyo Stock Exchange, surrounded by ongoing redevelopment and new hotels.
🍣 Tsukiji – The “City of Food”
Though the wholesale market moved to Toyosu in 2018, Tsukiji’s outer market remains lively, welcoming locals and tourists with fresh food stalls and culinary culture.
🌊 Tsukishima・Kachidoki・Harumi – The evolving waterfront
Built on reclaimed land along the Sumida River, this area features high-rise towers and family-friendly parks.
Tsukishima is famous for monjayaki, while Kachidoki Bridge (built 1940) is a National Important Cultural Property.
Harumi continues to grow as a futuristic community with the HARUMI FLAG redevelopment project.
🚆 Transportation Access
Chūō City enjoys an unmatched rail network with JR lines, Tokyo Metro, and Toei subways crisscrossing the ward🚇
Main connections include:
・JR Lines: Sōbu Rapid “Shin-Nihombashi,” “Bakurochō” / Keiyō Line “Hatchōbori”
・Tokyo Metro: Ginza, Marunouchi, and Hibiya Lines (Ginza) / Ginza & Tōzai Lines (Nihonbashi) / Hibiya & Tōzai Lines (Kayabachō)
・Toei Subway: Asakusa Line (Nihonbashi, Higashi-Nihonbashi) / Shinjuku Line (Hamachō) / Ōedo Line (Tsukiji-shijō, Kachidoki, Tsukishima)
🛣 Roads & Bridges
Major streets such as Chūō-dōri, Shōwa-dōri, Harumi-dōri, and Eitai-dōri run through the district, while iconic bridges over the Sumida River create beautiful nightscapes🌉
・Kachidoki Bridge (1940): Former drawbridge, now a National Cultural Property with elegant night lighting✨
・Eitai Bridge (1926): Post-earthquake reconstruction bridge known for its striking blue arch
・Nihonbashi: Undergoing expressway undergrounding to restore its historic skyline
🎭 Landmarks & Cultural Icons
🏬 Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store (1935): Renaissance-style masterpiece, designated Important Cultural Property
🎭 Kabuki-za Theatre (2013): Tokyo’s home of traditional kabuki, directly connected to Higashi-Ginza Station
🖼 Artizon Museum (2020): Showcasing modern and contemporary art in Kyobashi
🏢 Tokyo Stock Exchange (Kabutochō): The heart of Japan’s financial market, offering tours and exhibitions
🏠 Living & Real Estate Perspective
💎 Ginza・Nihonbashi・Kyobashi
Top-class commercial and office districts symbolizing Tokyo living at its finest.
Prime condominiums and investment units dominate, with exceptional convenience and prestige.
Nihonbashi’s redevelopment ensures stable property value and strong brand appeal.
🌊 Tsukishima・Kachidoki・Harumi
A waterfront zone lined with skyscraper residences, full of parks, schools, and shops.
Popular with families and professionals (DINKs) alike, led by major projects such as HARUMI FLAG.
🍣 Tsukiji
Combines the vitality of the market area with urban redevelopment.
Perfect for those who love food culture and local charm.
🏦 Kabutochō
Traditionally a financial hub, now reinvented with boutique hotels, restaurants, and art spaces —
a new model for creative urban living in central Tokyo.
📌 Summary
Chūō City embodies both Edo’s mercantile heritage and Tokyo’s global future.
Here, tradition (Nihonbashi, Kabuki-za) meets innovation (redevelopment, expressway undergrounding).
It’s a district where you can work, shop, live, and play all within walking distance —
the ultimate heart of Tokyo💫