Ginza

This large, prestigious establishment in the luxurious Ginza shopping district has a glorious history.

At the age of 18, in 1877, Kintaro Hattori was ambitious and established his clockmaking workshop in Tokyo.

In 1891, he added the sale and repair of used clocks to his offerings and founded K. Hattori & Co. Eleven years later, in 1892, Hattori purchased a deserted site of the Choya Shimbon newspaper, to set up his factory, which then took the name Seikosha. He produced his first watch there, a pocket watch, “Time Keeper” in 1895.

Hattori improved his skills by visiting establishments in Europe and the United States, and in 1913 launched “Laurel,” his first mechanical wristwatch.

The company’s manufacturing operations were relocated to allow for the reconstruction of the building. The original three-story building, which also housed a clock, was demolished in 1921.

In 1924, Hattori began selling products under the Seiko brand.

1932 was the year of the inauguration of the new 8-story building, including a basement. It housed the Seiko headquarters and opened a branch of its retail subsidiary company Wako Co., Ltd. Wako is a luxury boutique selling, among other things, high-end watches, jewelry, but also designer handbags, clothing and accessories on 5 levels (B1 to 4F) of the construction. On the 6th floor, Seiko House Hall presents exhibitions. As for the other floors, including the roof terrace, access is restricted and not public.

The store stands out with its curved granite entrance and towering clock, like a bell tower, which marks the site with significance while also serving a practical purpose. Like the previous building, the inclusion of a clock is rare and stands out in the Japanese setting.

The elegant building survived the devastation of World War II, and its robustness was put to the test in the 1954 version of Godzilla.

Mr. Hattori participated in the company’s growth until his passing in 1934. The company’s core principles and commitment to innovation remain at its heart.

The Seiko Ginza Museum is not located in the Wako Building (Seiko House Ginza) but in a nearby building called the Seiko Namiki-dori Building.