Ginza District: Tokyo

As I walked through the Ginza District in Tokyo last fall on a ULI leadership exchange, this was one of my favorite places. I enjoyed the stroll with a couple of my peers, admiring the equivalent of 5th Avenue in New York, only with a lot more eclectic and exciting architecture. It's not as pedestrian friendly, but who cares when the only people who can actually afford to shop here arrive by private coach and limo.

After having some of the freshest sushi in the world at 4:30am for breakfast, I I was about to experience firsthand some of the most striking architectural expressions in Asia. An urban infill dream, where there is no budget outlandish enough, and anything goes, it is incredible the creativity that comes into each of these buildings and baffling how the economics work. I would assume these buildings show piece events, and are loss leaders to indicate the level of style and class that is involved within them. I know that there is supposed to be so much money here, and I guess people fly in from all over to be able to purchase items here. I guess that is what goes along with much of the greatest architecture in this world. Those of use who don’t have the means can live vicariously through those who do.