Wako (retailer)

Wako Co., Ltd. (株式会社和光, Kabushiki-gaisha Wakō) is a department store retailer in Japan, best known for its flagship store, commonly referred to as the Ginza Wako, located in the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district. The store is renowned for its watches, jewelry, chocolate, porcelain, dishware, handbags, and upscale imported goods.

Wako Co., Ltd. was established in 1947 as the successor to the retail division of K. Hattori (known in Japan as Hattori Tokeiten, now Seiko) and began operations in a temporary location. In 1952, it commenced business in its current building. The Ginza Wako building was originally completed in 1932 as the headquarters of K. Hattori, situated at the corner of the Ginza 4-chome intersection. The Seiko headquarters was later relocated to Toranomon, and in 2016, it moved to Ginza 1-chome.

In 2022, the Ginza Wako building was reopened as Seiko House Ginza following renovation work.

In addition to its main store, Ginza Wako, Wako operates five branches in the Ginza area, including Seiko Dream Square and the Grand Seiko Boutique Ginza. It also has locations at Hotel Nikko Osaka, Haneda Airport Terminals 1 and 2, Nagoya Kanko Hotel, Matsuzakaya Nagoya, Daimaru Fukuoka Tenjin, and Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku.