Tokyo self-guided walking tour: Ueno to Asakusa
A walk through shitamachi, the old low city of Tokyo, from Ueno Station along quiet back streets to Kappabashi's kitchenware shops and on to Senso-ji, the river and Kaminarimon Gate. Watch the whole route in 4K first, then walk it yourself, stop by stop.
- Distance
- About 4.3 km2.6 miles, on foot
- Time
- 2½ to 3½ hoursabout 53 min of walking
- Start
- Ueno StationJR Yamanote Line or Ginza / Hibiya subway lines, Ueno Station
- Finish
- Kaminarimon GateAsakusa Station, Ginza or Asakusa subway lines, about 2 minutes' walk
Press play to start at stop 1, or pick any stop below.
Video by Shogun Walk on YouTube
This route follows one continuous midday walk from Ueno Station to Asakusa, taking the back streets instead of the subway. Each stop opens the video where the camera reaches it.
The route, stop by stop
- 1
Ueno Station
Start at one of Tokyo's great railway hubs. Leave on the east side and head away from the station traffic into the grid of small streets that runs towards Asakusa.
Ueno Park and its museums sit right behind the station if you want to add an hour before setting off.
↓ About 16 min walk (1.3 km) to Kappa Temple (Sogen-ji)
- 2
Kappa Temple (Sogen-ji)
After a stretch of quiet residential lanes and small shrines, this little temple is known for its kappa, the mischievous water spirit of Japanese folklore, whose figures and pictures fill the grounds.
It is a working temple and very small, so keep voices low and take a moment rather than a long visit.
↓ About 4 min walk (320 m) to Kappabashi Kitchen Town
- 3
Kappabashi Kitchen Town
A long street that supplies the city's restaurants, lined with shops selling knives, pottery, lanterns, signs and the famous plastic food samples seen in restaurant windows across Japan.
Many shops sell to the public, and small food samples or a good knife make a memorable souvenir.
↓ About 10 min walk (780 m) to Denbo-in Street
- 4
Denbo-in Street
Past the old Rokku entertainment district, this street of low shopfronts and painted shutters has an Edo-era look and leads straight to the busy heart of Asakusa.
↓ About 3 min walk (210 m) to Nakamise Shopping Street
- 5
Nakamise Shopping Street
The approach to the temple, a straight lane of stalls selling sweets, fans, toys and souvenirs, as it has for centuries.
Eating while walking is frowned upon here; stand by the stall to finish your snack.
↓ About 5 min walk (390 m) to Senso-ji
- 6
Senso-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple, with its incense burner, five-storey pagoda and great main hall. Asakusa Shrine stands quietly just to the right of the hall.
Entry to the temple grounds is free and they stay open after the hall closes, when the buildings are lit and the crowds have gone.
↓ About 7 min walk (550 m) to Sumida Park
- 7
Sumida Park
A few minutes east, a long riverside park on the Sumida River with views across the water to the Tokyo Skytree. In spring the banks are lined with cherry blossom.
A good place to sit down and rest your feet before the last stop.
↓ About 9 min walk (710 m) to Kaminarimon Gate
- 8
Kaminarimon Gate
Finish at the Thunder Gate, the outer entrance to Senso-ji, with its giant red lantern and the guardian gods of wind and thunder on either side.
The gate is the most photographed spot in Asakusa; early morning or evening is far calmer.
About this walk
Most visitors ride the subway between Ueno and Asakusa, two stops apart, and miss the neighbourhood in between: small temples tucked between houses, family workshops and the long trade street of Kappabashi. On foot it is an easy, flat walk, and it shows a side of Tokyo that the big districts in the west of the city no longer have.
The route follows a single unbroken midday walk recorded with natural sound only, so each stop opens the video at the moment the camera arrives. Allow extra time in Asakusa: Senso-ji and the lanes around it are worth slowing down for, and the riverside park is a good place to rest before the finish.
Good to know
Is this walk free?
Yes. Every stop on the route, including the grounds of Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine, can be visited without a ticket.
How long is the walk from Ueno to Asakusa?
The walking itself is about an hour on flat streets. With time at Kappabashi, Senso-ji and the river, most people take two and a half to three and a half hours.
What is the best time of day for this walk?
Late morning works well: the Kappabashi shops are open and Asakusa is lively. Many Kappabashi shops close on Sundays, so a weekday or Saturday is better if you want to shop there.
Can I do it in the other direction?
Yes. Starting at Kaminarimon in the morning lets you see Senso-ji before the crowds, then you can walk back towards Ueno and finish in Ueno Park.
Distances and walking times are approximate. Check opening days and any booking requirements before you go.
Watch the full walk with its key moments on the video page. More walks in this area: Asakusa neighborhood guide.
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