Photo/Illutration Seiko House Ginza, a luxurious department store formerly known as Wako, will open in Tokyo’s Ginza district on June 10. The building’s rooftop, with its iconic clock tower, is unveiled to media on June 8. (Tsubasa Setoguchi)

The Wako department store that houses an iconic clock tower at the top will reopen under a new name in Tokyo’s Ginza district on June 10, the day when Japan commemorates time, with a VIP-only rooftop garden.

Renovations on the department store have been completed, and the seven-floor building will bear a new name, Seiko House Ginza.

Wako was the flagship store of Wako Co.’s parent company, Seiko Holdings Corp. The store was built in 1932 and its full operation began in 1952.

Since then, the building has been a prominent landmark in central Ginza.

The renovation work was done on the top three floors, an area that had previously been utilized in a limited capacity.

The newly renovated fifth floor will be used as a reception lounge for special guests.

Seiko House Ginza Hall will occupy the sixth floor, holding events and displaying items related to the companies.

The rooftop, where the clock tower is located, will open as Seiko Sky Garden, with wood decks and plants. The garden, along with the fifth and sixth floors, will be available exclusively to special customers rather than the general public.

Renovation work on the seventh floor is expected to be completed in December. There will be a workshop where customers can see horologists and others working.

The first to fourth floors will sell watches and other decorative accessories, as before.

There will be special bell music played every hour from 8 a.m. to midnight from June 8 to 19 atop the tower to celebrate the opening.

The last chime will be at 7 p.m. on June 19.

The sixth floor’s special exhibit will be open to the public from June 10 to 19, but a ticket ordered in advance, which is free, is required. For more details, see the website: https://seiko-harmony.zaiko.io/e/event.

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