Akasaka Akihabara Ginza Hamamatsucho Kagurazaka Kanda Jimbocho Nihombashi Roppongi Shimbashi & Shiodome Tokyo Dome Tokyo Imperial Palace Tokyo Station & Marunouchi

Asakusa Ikebukuro Kappabashi Street Shibamata Sugamo Ueno Yanaka

Kiyosumi Ryogoku Tokyo Skytree & Around

Daikanyama Ebisu Jiyugoka Odaiba Togoshi-Ginza

Harajuku Minami-Aoyama Nakano Omotesando Shibuya Shimokitazawa Shinjuku Shin-Okubo

Taito Archives | Page 2 of 6

Eat & Drink

Hoppy Street

A popular night street in Asakusa. The izakaya and yakitori restaurants on either side of the road extend themselves in the evening with plastic tables and chair, making for a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

Entertainment

Asakusa Engei Hall

Asakusa Engei Hall is famous for rakugo (“fallen words”), a comical form of one-man storytelling through a dialogue of two characters. While the cultural references involved in the storytelling mean that near-native Japanese language skills are a must, Engei Hall does offer other performances that tourists can enjoy (e.g. magic shows).

Viewing Decks

Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center

An excellent tourist information center for the Asakusa area. The top floor is also an observation deck which provides superb views of Nakamise and Sensoji Temple. On the ground floor near the information desk you can also find all of Taito Ward excellent tourist maps for Asakusa and other areas of the ward such as Ueno and Yanaka.

Shrines & Temples

Asakusa Shrine

One of the most important Shinto shrines in the country. Asakusa Shrine stands in the east of Sensoji Temple and was built in honor of the three men who founded the famous temple. The Sanja Matsuri, one of Tokyo’s three major festivals, is held in May each year to celebrates these three men.

Shrines & Temples

Sensoji Temple

The centerpiece of the Asakusa area with origins dating back to 628 CE when two brothers found a statue resembling the Buddhist deity of mercy at the bottom of the Sumida River. The statue is said to be enshrined in the main temple building.

Shrines & Temples

Hozomon Gate

Magnificent inner entrance to Sensoji at south end of the Nakamise shopping street. The original gate was built in 942 but was destroyed by fire in 1631 and then again in 1945 in the Tokyo air raids, having stood for over 300 years. The structure you see today was built in 1964. The statues either side of the gate’s southern face are guardians of the Buddha.

Shopping

Nakamise

A 250-meter long street that leads up to Sensoji Temple lined either side with stalls selling anything from Japanese sweets to Japanese swords and paper umbrellas. Nakamise is more than just a tourist trap—it is actually one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan.

Shrines & Temples

Kaminarimon

Kaminarimon (“Thunder Gate”) is the protector of Sensoji Temple. Fujin, the god of wind, and Raijin, the god of thunder, are enshrined on the east and west side of the gate, respectively. Pass under the gate and make your way up Nakamise. As you do, be sure to look up to see the wooden carving under the large red lantern.