Apple Store Ginza

I’ve been here twice. I had negative experiences both times.
The first time, I just had a question. I had just moved to Japan and picked up a used SoftBank iPhone. In the states, I had an AT&T iPhone. After my initial contract expired, AT&T unlocked the SIM on request, allowing me to switch out SIM cards as I please.
I wanted to know what the situation was in Japan regarding SIM unlocks. A google search brought up a lot of bickering gaijin on message boards with conflicting information, so I decided to go straight to the source and ask.
As soon as the employee understood what I was asking, she let out a sigh and gave me an aggressive «You can’t do that. That’s illegal.» I started to ask about using the SIM unlocked phones that Apple sells on its website, as I would have liked to be able to switch out SIMs when I travel, but she just got angry. «That’s illegal! You can’t do it.» She sighed and scoffed and rolled her eyes. At a loss for words, I left the store.
The second time I went to the Ginza store, I purchased a MacBook Air. I also picked up the Microsoft Office Suite. The sales staff informed me that I would need to purchase a CD drive to install the software. I was surprised. «Really? I can’t just download it and use the activation key?» He informed me that I could not. I would have to purchase the CD drive, or let the staff install it in the store. I didn’t have time, so I told him I’d come back later to do it.
So I came back to the store on my day off with my computer and Microsoft Office Suite. I told an employee why I was there. She informed me that I didn’t need to come. That I could just download the software and activate it with the key code.
So the first employee I dealt with was needlessly hostile. The second lied to me in an attempt to upsell.
This is a house of liars and thieves. Proceed with caution.

Apple’s first store outside of the U.S. and in Japan/​Asia opened in November 2003 to crowds and media attention unheard of for a retail store opening in Japan. The line was long and held thousands of excited fans. I was there and waited for over six hours to get in and my commemorative T-​shirt, but it was truly a worthwhile and memorable event.
This store is Apple’s flagship in the world’s most exclusive and pricey real estate, Ginza. Four floors exemplify Apple’s attention to design and detail. The fourth floor has since changed but at that time, it featured tasty accessories, a kids space and boxed software. The third floor was and remains the Apple theater, where events and seminars are held. I’ve had the pleasure of attending many in the comfortable space over the years. The schedule has greatly expanded so there’s not a minute of any day where the space is not being utilized.
The second floor features accessories and the Genius Bar, where your questions and device issues are professionally addressed.
Hint: Use the recently updated Apple Store app to make your advance reservation (complete with mail reminders).
The first floor is the main showroom highlighting all of the latest Apple technology. Staff are friendly and extremely happy to help. Multiple languages accommodated, so if your native tongue is not Japanese or English no worries, native speakers of Spanish, French, Chinese and other languages are available.
If you’re in the Ginza area, the store is worth a visit, even if you’re not looking for anything to buy. As you move about the store, look for the tiny details… typically Apple.
Hint: Take the elevator up to the fourth floor first, then work your way down via the stairs.

The Ginza district is known for fashion, shopping and has international renown brands such as Prada, Gucci, Uniqlo, H&M, etc. In short, every high end business would like to have a store in Ginza. To have a store at the main street is also hard to find, but Apple, why would you choose such a store?
The store is divided into two floors and does not really live up to Apple store standard — according to me. The entrance floor is small and pretty crammed. The second floor is pretty much like the entrance floor but worse. To access the second floor you will either have to wait for the elevators (which seemed to be pretty slow and crowded) or take the stairwells in the back of the store — which to me seemed a bit shabby. I am used to Apple having spacious floors with sleek design implementations all over the store, but this particular store did not have any of that.
Summary: A fully functional store with all the gizmos and gadgets that Apple normally sells without the top notch store experience.