Japan’s first McDonald’s opened in Tokyo’s Ginza district in 1971.
The restaurant opened inside the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza, one of Tokyo’s best-known commercial and shopping areas. Its location placed the American fast-food brand in a highly visible retail setting.
McDonald’s entered Japan through a partnership involving Den Fujita and a Japanese company. The business adapted the international brand to local conditions while retaining the recognizable name, arches, and counter-service format.
Ginza is often confused with Shibuya or Shinjuku because all three are prominent Tokyo districts. The first Japanese McDonald’s was specifically associated with Ginza and the Mitsukoshi store.