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Asakusa is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi, lit. "low city", one of Tokyo's few districts, which have preserved a certain atmosphere of the old Tokyo. Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries. Asakusa can be easily explored on foot. Alternatively, you can consider a guided tour on a rickshaw (jinrikisha, lit. "man powered vehicle"). A 30 minute tour for two persons costs around 8000 Yen. Shorter and longer courses are also available. Sensoji temple grounds Dempoin Dori (Dempoin Street) For many centuries, Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district. During the Edo Period, when the district was still located outside the city limits, Asakusa was the site of kabuki theaters and a large red light district. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, modern types of entertainment, including movies, set foot in Asakusa. Large parts of Asakusa were destroyed in the air raids of World War Two. While the area around the rebuilt Sensoji has regained its former popularity after the war, the same cannot be said for Asakusa's entertainment district. Temples and Shrines: Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate) Always open. Admission free. Kaminarimon is the first of two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple. First built more than 1000 years ago, it is the symbol of Asakusa. The Nakamise shopping street leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds. Sensoji Temple (more details) Main building open 6:00 to 17:00 (Oct to Mar from 6:30). Admission free. Sensoji ("Senso" is an alternative reading for Asakusa and "ji" means temple) is Tokyo's most famous and popular temple. Built in the 7th century, it is also one of its oldest, although the current buildings are postwar reconstructions. Asakusa Shrine Always open. Admission free. Asakusa Shrine, also known as Sanja-sama, was built during the Edo Period and survived the air raids of 1945. The shrine's festival, the Sanja Matsuri, is one of Tokyo's most spectacular and popular. It is held every year on a weekend (Friday to Sunday) in mid May. Dempoin Temple Not open to the public! Dempoin is a temple just next to Sensoji, known for its beautiful garden. Unfortunately, the temple and garden are not open to the public. Visiting the garden by appointment, as it used to be possible, cannot be done anymore, either. Shopping: Nakamise Shopping Street (more details) Opening hours depend on the individual shops. Typically daily from 9:00 to 19:00. The Nakamise shopping street stretches over approximately 250 meters from Kaminarimon to the main grounds of Sensoji Temple. It is lined by more than 50 shops, which offer local specialties and the usual array of tourist souvenirs. Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street Opening hours depend on the individual shops. Typically daily from 10:00 to 20:00. Shin-Nakamise or New Nakamise Shopping Street runs perpendicular to the Nakamise Shopping Street. It is a covered shopping arcade lined by various shops and restaurants. Kappabashi Shopping Street (more details) Most shops open from 9:00 to 17:00. Many are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Kappabashi is an almost one kilometer long street lined by shops catering to restaurant businesses. Items on sale include tableware, kitchen utensils and appliances, sample food made of wax and plastic, furniture, signs, lanterns and uniforms. Rox Department Store Daily 10:30 to 21:00 (supermarket is open 24 hours; restaurants from 11:00 to 22:00). Rox is a shopping and entertainment complex consisting of a main building (Rox) and three annex buildings (Rox2G, Rox3 and Rox Dome). Many shops sell fashion for ladies and kids. There is a 24h supermarket in the basement of the main building. Tobu Asakusa Station & Matsuya Department Store Matsuya department store is open daily from 10:00 to 19:30. Tobu Asakusa Station is the terminal station of Tobu trains heading into the suburbs and prefectures north of Tokyo, including trains to Nikko. The station building also houses a Matsuya department store that spans eight floors. Other Attractions: Sumida River Cruise Daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Asakusa - Hinode: 40 minutes, 760 yen; Asakusa - Hama Rikyu: 35 minutes, 1020 yen (includes 300 yen admission to the garden); Hinode - Odaiba: 20 minutes, 460 yen; Asakusa - Odaiba by direct ship: 55 minutes, 1520 yen (includes supplement fee of 300 yen) Sumida River sightseeing ships operate every 30 to 60 minutes from Asakusa Pier via Hama Rikyu Garden to Hinode Pier, where you can transfer to a ship to Odaiba. In addition, there are less frequent, direct ships from Asakusa to Odaiba. Sumida Park Always open. Admission free. This riverside park stretches along both sides of Sumida River for several hundred meters. In spring it becomes a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, while on the last Saturday of July it becomes the site of the Sumida River Firework Festival. Rokku Entertainment District Opening hours depend on the individual businesses. Rokku used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district before the war, hosting Japan's first cinema and more. However, the district has not regained its former popularity after the war. Today, Rokku offers attractions such as rakugo theaters, cinemas and pachinko parlors. Hanayashiki Amusement Park Open 10:00 to 18:00 (longer hours during holidays). Admission: 900 yen plus separate fees for rides. Originally opened as a flower park, Hanayashiki has a history of more than 150 years. Located just a few steps from Sensoji, the miniature amusement park offers numerous attractions, including a small Ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel and Space Shot. Asahi Beer Tower Restaurants open daily from 11:30 to 22:00. The Asahi Beer Tower and Asahi Super Dry Hall with its characteristic Flamme d'Or were, completed in 1989 and host the headquarters of Asahi Breweries. Furthermore, several restaurants can be found in the complex. Taikokan (Drum Museum) Open from 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, New Year and Obon. Admission: 300 yen Drums from around the world, including Japanese taiko drums, are exhibited in this small museum. Visitors can play several of the drums. The museum is located in a floor above the Miyamoto Unosuke Nishi Asakusa store, which sells Japanese drums and festival goods. Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts Museum Open daily 10:00 to 20:00. Admission free. This small museum introduces the many traditional arts and crafts of the old Tokyo (formerly known as Edo), such as scissors, combs, furniture, silverware, embroidery and more. Demonstrations by craftsmen are held on weekends.

How to get there

Asakusa is served by the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, Tsukuba Express and Tobu Railways. From Tokyo Station Take the JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station (2 minutes, 130 Yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 160 Yen). From Shinjuku Station Take the orange JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station (10 minutes, 160 Yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 160 Yen). Orientation in Tokyo

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English Links

Asakusa Shrine Offical English website. Asakusa Nakamise Offical English website. Tokyo Water Cruise Offical English website. Hanayashiki Amusement Park Offical English website.