Total Luxury

So Japan (Tokyo's Ginza and Omotesando, to be precise) is the lap of luxury - brand shops galore, expensive sushi, kobe beef, etc. - nothing new. In the 80's, Japanese tourists in the US were identified - and at times parodied - with their eyeglasses and big cameras. Nowadays, it's Louis Vuitton, Prada and Hermes that give them away.

The big French and Italian brands make big bucks here - According to a Jetro report, Japan is "the world's most concentrated source of income for luxury brands." Even during the economic malaise of the 90's there was no shortage of custom hand crafted leather with a (take-your-pick) brand badge on the buckle.

(From Jetro

Well the brands are showing their appreciation and investing even more in their presence, making Tokyo (in particular Ginza) the brand flagship building capital of the world. More so, they're taking the whole concept of Luxury up a notch. New buildings from Bulgari, Armani, Chanel, etc etc etc, are propping up all over Ginza with their own Michelin-starred restaurants, private lounges and even (in Armani) a posh spa.

It all started with Hermes:

Dior:

Armani (with the world's only Armani Spa):

Even Mikimoto:Gucci: