Asakusa (ó‘) is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally "low city"), one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives.
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 easily be explored on foot. Alternatively, you can consider a guided tour on a rickshaw (jinrikisha, literally "man powered vehicle"). A 30 minute tour for two persons costs around 9000 yen. Shorter and longer courses are also available.
Dempoin Dori (Dempoin Street)
For many centuries, Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), 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 movie theaters, set foot in Asakusa.
However, large parts of Asakusa were destroyed in the air raids of World War Two. And 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. The opening of the 634 meter tall Tokyo Skytree, a twenty minute walk across the Sumida River from Asakusa, has led to an increase of tourists recently.
Temples and Shrines
Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate)
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
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
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
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
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
Shin-Nakamise or "New Nakamise" runs perpendicular to the
Nakamise Shopping Street. It is a covered shopping arcade lined by various shops and restaurants.
Kappabashi Shopping Street
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, furniture, signs, lanterns and uniforms.
Marugoto Nippon
Marugoto Nippon is a large four-story building that features made-in-Japan products from all across the country. Food products from the different
prefectures can be found on the first floor while lifestyle goods can be found on the second. The third floor is an event space, and restaurants are found on the fourth floor. There is also a hotel above the shopping floors.
Rox Department Store
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.
Tobu Asakusa Station & Matsuya Department Store
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.
Asakusa Underground Street
The Asakusa Underground Street (Asakusa Chikagai) is one of the oldest underground shopping streets in Japan. The short passageway connects the Tobu Asakusa Station to the
Shin Nakamise Shopping Street and contains about 20 shops and restaurants. The arcade looks like it has remained unchanged since the Showa Period (1926-1989), and visitors may feel like they walked into a throwback alleyway.
Other Attractions
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center was newly opened in 2012, adding diversity to the streets of Asakusa with its interesting architectural design. The eight story building offers a tourist information desk in multiple languages, free
wifi connectivity, a cafe, and an observation deck which provides good views looking onto
Sensoji Temple and the
Nakamise Shopping Street.
Sumida River Cruise
Tokyo Water Bus operates sightseeing ships 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
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.
Rokku Entertainment District
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
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
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. Behind both the Beer Tower and the Super Dry Hall is the Asahi Craftmanship Brewery. The restaurant and brewery offers diners decently priced lunches as well as Asahi craft beer on tap.
Taikokan (Drum Museum)
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.
Jakotsuyu Public Bath
Jakotsuyu is a local
public bath with a relatively long history. Visitors can mingle with the locals who frequent the bath. Towels and amenity kits are sold at the counter, making it convenient for travelers.
Dining
Kamiya Bar
Kamiya Bar in Asakusa opened in Meiji 13 (1880) and has been in the same location ever since. It is one of Japan's oldest bars as well as the only producer of the drink denki bran - a type of brandy concoction - in the country. The bar has three stories, and the one on street level is the most popular. Kamiya Bar also has a window store that sells souvenir bottles of denki bran.
Umezono
Umezono is a traditional Japanese
sweets shop that started in 1854. Their menu contains classics like
anmitsu and
oshiruko in addition to seasonal favorites like shaved ice (kakigori). The shop also has a window store that sells
yokan,
dorayaki and other desserts to go.
Suzukien Nanaya Gelato
Asakusa Suzukien Nanaya Gelato is a collaboration between Suzukien, a green tea speciality shop, and Nanaya Gelato, a gelato shop. The store claims to have the richest and most intense green tea (
matcha) gelato in the world. The popular shop offers about fourteen gelato flavors including seven matcha ones.
Asakusa Kagetsudo
Asakusa Kagetsudo is a melon-pan store and restaurant that has been in business since 1945. Melon-pan is a sweet baked bread with a top that resembles the outer layer of a cantaloupe melon. Kagetsudo is most famous for their jumbo melon-pan which is best eaten warm, but also sells variations of their melon-pan that come with ice cream fillings. Japanese desserts, as well as savoury foods like
soba noodles are also sold at the restaurant.
Tempura
There are a number of
tempura shops in Asakusa, offering delicious deep fried seafood and vegetables. The area flourished in the
Edo Period as a tempura location thanks to the availability of seafood products from nearby Tokyo Bay. The more well-known tempura restaurants include Daikokuya, San Sada and Owariya.
Unagi
There are also a handful of established
unagi-ya (freshwater eel restaurants) in the area with histories of at least a hundred years. Unagi, or freshwater eel, is relatively expensive with prices starting at 2000 yen for lunch and more for dinner. Well known unagi-ya in Asakusa include Irogawa, Hatsuogawa and Maekawa.
