A Beer Hall of Glass Tiles in Ginza
The Ginza Lion Building (銀座ライオンビル) is a building with a beer hall of 1934 in Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 17, 2022 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a reinforced concrete building of six storeys and a basement with a rooftop tower and a building area of 512 square metres, altered in 1939 and 1979; registration number 13-0459.
A Building in Ginza 7-chome
The Ginza Lion Building is a steel-framed reinforced concrete building of six storeys and a basement in Ginza 7-chome (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its ground floor and parapet keep details in the manner of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Inside, besides the sixth-floor hall, the ground-floor beer hall is the highlight: its tiled walls are decorated with beam forms and other ornament, and a magnificent glass-tile mural adorns it (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it as a model of design, calling it a masterpiece among Japan's beer halls.
What to Look For
Look for the glass-tile mural and tiled walls of the ground-floor beer hall, and the Wright-style details outside (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Sapporo Lion, and the ground floor is a beer hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Check the restaurant for opening hours.
Q&A
- When was the Ginza Lion Building built?
- In 1934 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I see at the Ginza Lion Building?
- The glass-tile mural and tiled walls of the beer hall.
- Why is the Ginza Lion Building a cultural property?
- The Agency calls its beer hall a masterpiece of the type.
- Can I go inside the Ginza Lion Building?
- The ground floor is a beer hall.
- When was the Ginza Lion Building registered?
- On February 17, 2022 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ginza Lion Building (銀座ライオンビル) |
|---|---|
| Location | 7-1 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2022/02/17 (Reiwa 4) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Reinforced concrete, 6 storeys and basement, 512 m², rooftop tower |
| Owner | Sapporo Lion Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Ground floor is a beer hall |
References
- Ginza Lion Building (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00014141
Last verified: 2026.10.16