About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Area Map | Attractions
About
Senso-ji by chensiyuan (GNU Free)
The Asakusa area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tokyo and there are many attractions, things to do and see (See map below). The area is just North East of Tokyo Station and can be easily reached in about 15 to 30 min. from Tokyo Station, Ueno and other stations. It is a place where the old atmosphere of Tokyo survives. There is a LOT to see in Asakusa but if you start early, you can fill your day with an interesting and exciting day! The most famous sites are "Kaminari Mon" (the main gate) and the main temple. Kaminari Mon is at the entrance of a long walk through tourist shops lining the main street. The "tourist" shops are just that but they do carry some interesting knick-knacks and goods you might be interested in so take a look. Also you will find "Soft" green tea ice cream cone shops, definitely get one of these! The area is generally filled with thousands of tourists from all over the world snapping photos of everything in site. Take your time and enjoy the sights!
Nakamise by chensiyuan (GNU Free)
There are many rail lines that have station in or near Asakusa but the easiest method is to take the Ginza Subway from Ueno, Its only about a 10 min. ride and the Ginza Subway station is very near the Kaminari Gate where you can start your meandering about. Instead of just bulldozing on in, snap a picture of yourself with an iconic building in the background and moving on... take a couple minutes to just gaze at the beauty, craftmanship and "meaning" of some of the structures.
Eating in Asakusa by Danny Choo (CC BY-SA 2.0)
For a long time... hundreds of years, Asakusa was Tokyo's "playground". The entertainment district that had it all. When the district was outside the city limits it had kabuki theatres and a very large "Red Light" district. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, movie theaters also started to pop-up in Asakusa. Unfortunately during World War 2 large sections of Asakusa were destroyed and the "Entertainment" aspect of Asakusa never really returned. However, the temples, shrines and other attractions of Asakusa have really not only brought the city back, but have made it one of the top spots for tourists to hit when they are in Tokyo.
Access
Asasuku is in the North Eastern area of Tokyo. The simplest way to reach Asakusa is to take the Ginza Subway Line from Ueno. Ueno is a major station on the Yamanote Loop line which encircles greater Tokyo. From Ueno it's a short 5 min. ride to Asakusa Station.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View all Hotels and Lodging in & nearby Asakusa
Area Map
Below is a map that shows the more popular destinations in Asakusa and below the map is a list with a short description of each attraction. If you would like to read more about a specific attraction, most link to a detail page. You could easily fill a whole day by visiting all the attractions in Asakusa or just hit the "main" attractions in a few hours.
Attractions
Here is a list of some of the top Attractions in & nearby Asakusa.
Kaminarimon
Hours: You can visit the gate at anytime, it never "closes"
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Map: Google Map
Kaminarimon (in Japanese; Kami Nari Mon 雷門) which literally means, "Thunder Gate" is the 1st gate that leads to the entrance of Sensoji, a temple in Asakusa Tokyo. Kaminarimon is VERY popular with Japanese and Foreign tourists alike! The original gate was built in 941 by a military c... more details
![Sensoji - Rainy Night [IQRemix|https://www.flickr.com/photos/iqremix/17463645238| CC BY-SA 2.0 ]](https://www.snapjapan.com/files/styles/bscool_400x300_scale_crop/public/featured/attraction-temple-tokyo-senso-ji-0001-0001-0001-flickr.jpg "Sensoji - Rainy Night [IQRemix|https://www.flickr.com/photos/iqremix/17463645238| CC BY-SA 2.0 ]")
Sensoji Temple
Hours: The grounds of Shrines and Temples are generally open 27/7, 365 days a year but, many set their own hours. If hours are set, they are generally open from 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. in the morning and close around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Map: Google Map
The Sensoji Temple 浅草寺 (also known as the Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist Temple. Before World War 2 is was associated with the Buddhism "Tendai" Sect but after the war, it became independent. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 645, and one of the most significa... more details
Asakusa Shrine
Hours: The grounds of Shrines and Temples are generally open 27/7, 365 days a year but, many set their own hours. If hours are set, they are generally open from 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. in the morning and close around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Map: Google Map
Asakusa Shrine is also known as Sanja Sama (which literally means the "Shrine of Three Gods") is probably the most famous and most visited shrine in Tokyo. The shrine was founded and built in 1649 during the Edo Era under orders of Tokugawa Iemitsu. Strangely enough, this Shinto sh... more details
Tokyo Skytree
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (entry until 9:00 p.m.),
Closed: No closing days.
Cost: 1st Deck at 350 meters: 2,060 yen | 2nd Deck at 450 meters (includes 1st Deck): 3,090 yen
Map: Google Map
Tokyo Skytree is a new television broadcasting tower, a new landmark of Tokyo and an Obersvation Deck for tourists (See our full guide on the "Best Oberservation Decks in Tokyo"). It sits above the "Tokyo Skytree Town" and the Shopping Center Tokyo Solamachi near Asakusa.... more details
Sumida Aquarium
Hours: 9:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m
Closed: No closing days
Cost: Adult (18+): 2,050 yen, High School Students: 1,500 yen, Junior High School and Elementary: 1,000 yen, Children (3+): 600 yen
Map: Google Map
The Sumida Aquarium (in Japanese; Sumida Suizokukan すみだ水族館) is one of the many attractions, other than Tokyo Skytree, that visitors can visit at the Tokyo Skytree Town complex. It is a theme park with beautifully designed modern aquarium that houses over 10,000 sea creatures on the 5th a... more details
Kappabashi Street
Hours: Kappabashi is an "area" therefore each shop has it's own operating hours. To be safe, best to visit between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for "normal" shops and before 11:00 p.m. to catch restaurants open.
Cost: Each establishment's cost is different.
Map: Google Map
by Taliesin (CC0 1.0) Kappabashi Street is an interesting place to stroll through. The area is filled with shops that supply the restaurant industry. Appliances, knives, mass-produced crockery and one of the most interesting, plastic food displays that Japanese restaurants use to put out in front o... more details
copyright kimishowota (license)
Naka Mise (Shopping Street) From Kaminarimon to the grounds of Sensoji there is a walking and shopping street called "Naka Mise". Lined by more than 50 shops, each offers local specialties and tourist souvenirs. Opening hours of each shop vary but generally between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
copyright Danny Choo (license)
Sumida River Cruises From the Sumida River Boat Terminal you can catch a variety of cruises that cruise down the Sumida River. A variety of companies operate out of the pier and leave every 30min. to an hour. These river cruises are especially popular in the evening or night with Japanese as some cruises offer dinners and drinking... and even karaoke. If your in Asakusa its easy enough to just stroll down to the pier and make a reservation but you can also ask your hotel clerk or check online. Here are a couple "River Cruise line" Websites: 1.) Asakusa-Odaiba Direct Line (some English), 2.) Sumida River Line (some English), 3.) Tokyo Big Sight Palette Town (some English)
copyright Retinafunk (license)
Asahi Beer Tower This wild looking building was completed in 1989 and is the headquarters of Asahi Beer. There are many restaurants (and of course beer) in the building if you get the desire to stroll over to it.
copyright C.E. Kent (license)
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center; Asakusa is one of the biggest "Tourist" destinations in Tokyo for foreigners and Japanese visitors alike. Opened in 2012, the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center offers tourist information in multiple languages, free wifi, a cafe and an observation deck where you can look out and get a great view of Asakusa. Be sure to stop in here first on your visit to Asakusa.
copyright Guilhem Vellut (license)
Sumida Park is a park that runs along side the Sumida river for several hundred meters. During cherry blossom season this park is packed with Japanese enjoying the blossoms. Also during the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival in July, this park is an optimal place to catch the fireworks.
copyright HostaMadosta (license)
Rokku Entertainment District is an "Entertainment District". Before the war it used to be the most popular place for entertainment in Tokyo. Today, its a shadow of it's former self having never been able to make it back to it's former glory. There are some Movie Theaters in here and lots of Pachinko parlors. It is interesting to stroll down the back streets of this area and find some interesting camera shots.
Taiko Museum is a museum that displays Japanese "Taiko" drums AND drums from around the world. Its a small yet very interesting museum where visitors actually bang on some of the drums. The museum is above the Miyamoto Unosuke Nishi Asakusa store. At the store you can buy a Taiko drum or Japanese festival goods if you like... see more details.
