A visit to the Ginza Six Garden

I took a trip to Tokyo at the end of June and discovered that the scorching temperature of Japan’s summer was as high as that in Taiwan. Street pedestrians had no other choice but to stay in a department store where there is air conditioning. I accidentally ran into an oasis over the roofs of several department stores in Ginza, a concrete jungle and most affluent shopping area in Tokyo.

As a paradise where fashion is born across Japan, Ginza is known for its extremely high property prices, how could there be a piece of real estate allotted for no practical use? Yet commercial-savvy entrepreneurs were smart enough to plan a terrace over the roofs of department stores and shopping malls, which could reduce the high temperatures of urban buildings and electricity bills, while creating an environmental-friendly image of this shopping district. All of this would attract more tourists and develop new customers at the same time. 

As a matter of fact, this trend of building green roofs and terraced gardens has swept Japan in recent years—from Shinjuku, Omotesando Hills, and Roppongi Hills, to the most well-known Namba Parks of the Osaka shopping district. Here I’d like to share two examples of roof terraces in Ginza.

GINZA SIX, an ideal place for parents to take a rest andkids to frolic near the water

The GINZA SIX, part of an urban renewal project, was opened in April 2017 on the previous site of Matsusakaya and two adjacent areas. As to why it was called “Ginza Six,” some said this was because it is located in 6-chome, whereas others said it was aimed to provide a 6-star customer 
experience. Yet it might have something to do with the “roof zoo” built by Matsusakaya many years ago. Probably the roof terraces were inspired by the roof zoo.

The lushly abundant vertical greening of the roof terraces in GINZA SIX

As a shopping mall that contains the famous Tsutaya Bookstore, the interior design of GINZA SIX is full of artistic atmosphere. Before stepping into the roof terraces, you may see an LED lighting green waterfall wall (designed by the teamLab), which was called “Universe of Water Particles on the Living Wall,” a perfect combination of modern technology and aesthetic value that brings visual coolness to visitors. You’ll be welcomed by a vertical wall named as “Living Canyon” in the staircases. Covered with domestic plants, this vertical wall provides shoppers with a pleasant experience when walking up or down the stairs.

The greening design in the stairways of GINZA SIX

When arriving at the Ginza Six Garden on the 14th floor, the well-planned paths are shielded by trees. This Edo-style garden is featured with large numbers of cherry blossoms and pine trees, along with a small shrine in one of the corners. There is a similar shrine over the rooftop of Hayashi Department Store in Tainan, Taiwan. 

It is worth noting that a green roof was thought out before GINZA SIX was even constructed. This ensures against water leakage, and explains why there are large trees, lawns, and a pool. A slightly tilted pool was designed to let the water flow over the rooftop. The 1-2 cm depth of water allows children to frolic safely here, while parents have a leisurely conversation nearby. This sight seems to be very similar to any parks in Taiwan.

A pool specifically designed for children to frolic andhave fun in GINZA SIX Garden

Sipping at coffee while enjoying the night scene in Tokyo Plaza

A short distance away from the Ginza Garden, the roof of the TOKYU PLAZA GINZA also boasts a three-story vertical wall (Take an escalator when you reach the 11th floor). The vegetation was designed to grow inwardly, which disallows pedestrians from seeing this green wall outside the building. 

The KIRIKO TERRACE & café attracts diners with its very special location at the rooftop, which is divided up into “Water Side” (white) near the pool and “Green Side” (featuring an L-shape green wall). Diners may enjoy the night scene while drinking coffee. This makes the best use of the roof space in a commercial district. 

Interestingly enough, the lawns of the Mitsukoshi department store nearby make a triangle to the above two green roofs. All three green roofs provide a number of precious green spaces amid the densely populated urban areas. They also provide an ideal place for people to take a break for a while.

The roof coffee shop at the TOKYU PLAZA wasbeautifully decorated with a green wall

The green roof of the TOKYU PLAZA provides a nice viewof the city, A bird's-eye view 

 If the speed of global warming cannot be reversed, such horrid heatwaves and torrents might become regular occurrences in the future. To address this problem, we need more green lands to reduce the heat for the urban environment where we live and work and where foreign visitors come to visit. This may help to alleviate urban heat island effect and the impacts brought by extreme weather. 

I cannot help but wonder, where can we find the roof oases in Taiwan’s department stores or high rises, like those we find in Japan?

Reference / 
The official website of GINZA SIX 
The official website of TOKYU PLAZA GINZA