Asakusa (浅草) 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 8000 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
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| Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate) |
Hours: 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. |
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| Sensoji Temple (more details) |
Hours: 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 October to March)
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. |
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| Asakusa Shrine |
Hours: 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. |
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| Dempoin Temple |
| Not usually 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. |
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Shopping
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| Nakamise Shopping Street (more details) |
| 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. |
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| Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street |
| Hours depend on the individual shops; typically daily from 10:00 to 20:00. |
| Shin-Nakamise or "New Nakamise" runs perpendicular to the Nakamise Shopping Street. It is a covered shopping arcade lined by various shops and restaurants. |
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| Kappabashi Shopping Street (more details) |
Hours: Most shops open from 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: Many shops are closed on Sundays and national 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, furniture, signs, lanterns and uniforms. |
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| Rox Department Store |
Shops: Daily 10:30 to 21:00 (supermarket is open 24 hours)
Restaurants: Daily 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. |
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| Tobu Asakusa Station & Matsuya Department Store |
| Matsuya department store is open daily from 10:00 to 19:30 (to 20:00 during summer) |
| 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. |
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Other Attractions
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| Sumida Park |
Hours: 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. |
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| 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. |
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