Asakusa walking tour & neighborhood guide
Old Tokyo, Senso-ji Temple and views of the Skytree.
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Asakusa is the place to feel the Tokyo of old. Long the city's great entertainment quarter, it grew up around Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and it still has a slower, more traditional rhythm than the neon districts to the west, with rickshaws, craft shops and low wooden eaves along its lanes.
Senso-ji and Nakamise-dori
Visitors enter Senso-ji through Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate, where a huge red paper lantern hangs between statues of the gods of wind and thunder. Beyond it, Nakamise-dori is a lane of around ninety stalls selling rice crackers, sweet buns, fans and souvenirs, a shopping street that has served pilgrims for centuries.
The temple itself, founded according to legend in the 7th century, was rebuilt after the Second World War. Its main hall, five-story pagoda and incense burner, where people waft the smoke over themselves for good health, are busy from morning until night. The temple grounds are open around the clock, and the buildings are beautifully lit after dark.
Beyond the temple
The streets around Senso-ji are full of small surprises: Denboin-dori with its Edo-style shopfronts, the retro Hanayashiki amusement park, which opened in 1853, and Hoppy Street, where open-air izakaya serve stewed beef tendon and cheap drinks at tables on the pavement.
To the east, the Sumida River separates Asakusa from the Tokyo Skytree. Sumida Park along the riverbank is lined with cherry trees, and river boats run from here down to Hamarikyu Gardens and Odaiba. Kappabashi, a short walk west, is the street of kitchenware shops famous for its realistic plastic food models.
A classic walk in Asakusa
Start at Kaminarimon, walk Nakamise-dori to Senso-ji, then loop through the backstreets past Denboin-dori and Hoppy Street. Cross to Sumida Park for views of the Skytree, and if you have time, walk over the river to the tower itself or west to Kappabashi.
Arrive early in the morning to see the temple before the crowds, or come back after dark, when the gates and pagoda are lit and the lanes are quiet. Many visitors also combine Asakusa with nearby Ueno and its park and museums.
Top sights in Asakusa
- 1
Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo's oldest temple, with a main hall and five-story pagoda.
- 2
Kaminarimon
The Thunder Gate and its giant red lantern.
- 3
Nakamise-dori
A lane of traditional snack and souvenir stalls leading to the temple.
- 4
Sumida Park
A riverside park with cherry trees and Skytree views.
- 5
Tokyo Skytree
Japan's tallest tower, just across the river.
- 6
Kappabashi
The kitchenware street with its famous plastic food models.
Food markets & where to eat in Asakusa
Nakamise-dori
Rice crackers, sweet buns and melon pan from the stalls.
Hoppy Street
Open-air izakaya serving stews and grilled skewers.
Denboin-dori
Edo-style shopfronts with traditional sweets and snacks.
Asakusa backstreets
Small tempura, soba and monja shops in the lanes around the temple.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
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