Ginza is a popular upscale shopping area of Tokyo, with numerous internationally renowned department stores, boutiques, restaurants, and coffeehouses located here. It is considered one of the most expensive, elegant, and luxurious places in the world. Each weekend, the area's main road is closed to motorized traffic and converted to a pedestrian thoroughfare. Among Tokyo's shopping districts, Ginza boasts the highest concentration of Western brands. The area's reputation for trendsetting extends back to the Meiji Restoration when it was proclaimed a “model of modernization.” Visiting Ginza is practically a must.