"Regrets: Waiting an Hour for a Fitting?! A Story of Realizing That Reservations Are Essential at Jewelry Shops in Ginza During the Holiday Season"

2019.12.18 published

Can't See Rings in Ginza!?

Hello, I'm Nagisa from Marry.

Last week (Sunday, December 15), I went on a Christmas date with my boyfriend in Ginza.

The goals were:

☑ To buy a Christmas present (accessory)

☑ To look at engagement and wedding rings

However, there’s something I regretted.

That is, "The jewelry shops in Ginza were so crowded that I couldn't see the rings...!"

Ginza during the holiday season is extremely crowded.

☑ Couples choosing Christmas gifts

☑ Couples selecting bridal jewelry

☑ A greater number of tourists than usual due to the year-end (both domestic and international)

Everywhere you go, there are crowds.

Brands Visited and Waiting Times.

First, we went to Cartier.

In Ginza, Cartier has the "Ginza Boutique" on Ginza Street and the "Namiki Street Boutique" on Namiki Street.

The bridal salon on the third floor of the Ginza Boutique allows for advance reservations, but this is only available on weekdays. On holidays, you will be guided (fitting) on a first-come, first-served basis.

I went in the early afternoon. The wait time for fittings was an hour and a half. While I could look at the rings, I needed a reservation to actually try them on.

Even with a wait time of over an hour, it wasn't a "feel free to wait outside" situation; they told us, "Please wait in the store."

Since the Ginza Boutique was crowded, I tried going to the Namiki Street Boutique, but the wait time there was also about an hour. In the end, despite going out of my way, I couldn’t preview bridal jewelry at Cartier that day…

If you're planning to go to Cartier in Ginza, aim to arrive at opening time, or be prepared for a possible wait of over an hour.

By the way, I visited the Ginza Boutique again around 5 PM, but the wait was about an hour. Although it was 30 minutes shorter than in the afternoon, it was still busy in the evening.

Next, Tiffany.

Tiffany has the "Ginza Main Store" on Ginza Street and the "Bridal Boutique" on Maronier Street.

I checked the Tiffany on Ginza Street in the early afternoon, but it was also extremely crowded.

The first floor was packed with people in front of all the display cases, with some even peeking through the gaps between people...!

The Bridal Boutique is fully reservation-based, so if you're looking to see bridal jewelry, making a reservation should ensure a smooth experience.

I also visited Boucheron. The "Boucheron Ginza" is on Namiki Street, and when I went in the evening, I was relatively smoothly guided!

However, there were very few seats in the bridal salon, and we filled them all. When I asked the staff, they mentioned that weekends are quite crowded, and it’s usually difficult to be guided without a reservation. (I was lucky.)

I recommend making a reservation if you plan to go.

@nagisa_marry

I also peeked at the jewelry brands on the first floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi, but

the brands that face Ginza Street and have a relatively strong fashion element (4°C, Vendome Aoyama, Niising, Festaria Bijou Sophia, Ponte Vecchio, Royal Asscher, etc.) were so crowded that you couldn't even pass through the aisles.

However, the high-end brands located further inside (Tiffany, Fred, Damiani, Mauboussin, Chopard, Tasaki, Chaumet, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari) were relatively quieter.

(Is it because everyone goes to street stores???)

Since street stores like Tiffany and Van Cleef are probably crowded, it might be a good idea to check out the tenant stores located inside department stores like Ginza Mitsukoshi.

@nekonekota0922wd

I also went to AHKAR at Ginza Six, but it gave a general impression of being crowded. I was able to be guided immediately by chance, but all the seats were fully reserved.

Other brands like Van Cleef, Damiani, Chopard, and Fred were relatively less crowded, so if street stores are packed, it might be worth checking them out.

You Should Make a Reservation During the Holiday Season in Ginza!

I’ve known for a long time that "jewelry shops can take reservations," but I had never made one.

That's because, typically, whenever I went to any brand, I didn’t have to wait, and in fact, there were often more staff than customers who actively approached me.

So, I thought, "I know about the reservation system, but there's no particular problem with not making a reservation."

However, Ginza during the holiday season is special.

"Everyone wants to choose accessories in Ginza with its sparkling illuminations and many boutiques (at the main store in Ginza)♡"

Therefore, for stores where "reservations can be made," it’s best to make a reservation before going.

You wouldn’t want to spend what should be a fun Christmas date feeling frustrated from the crowd or waiting for over an hour...!

If you have a brand in mind, make a reservation before going to ensure a smooth experience♩

@sasami.tori