Ginza, Tokyo's posh shopping and entertainment district, has delighted visitors for over a century with high-end shops selling everything from jewelry and clothing to sweets and stationery.

But the Ginza area was once part of the sea. Reclaimed during the Edo Period (1603-1867) as part of the shogunate's plan to develop the area, the district takes its name from "gin," meaning silver, and "za," for office, after a mint was set up there in 1612.

The Kabukiza theater, which reopened in April 2013 after a three-year revamp, has hosted several renowned kabuki productions. It first opened its doors in 1889; the current structure is its fifth incarnation.
The Kabukiza theater, which reopened in April 2013 after a three-year revamp, has hosted several renowned kabuki productions. It first opened its doors in 1889; the current structure is its fifth incarnation. | SATOKO KAWASAKI
Interestingly enough, it was a devastating fire in 1872 that paved the way for Ginza's lasting prosperity. Burned to the ground, the area was redeveloped with the goal of making it as fire-resistant as possible.