Most Tokyo neighborhoods reinvent themselves every decade. Asakusa just keeps doing what it's done since the Edo period — temples, sweets and good company.

What to see in Asakusa

1. Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺)

Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, founded in 645 AD. The huge red Kaminarimon (雷門 — "Thunder Gate") with its giant paper lantern is the icon of Tokyo tourism. Walk through, then up Nakamise-dori to the main hall.

2. Nakamise Shopping Street (仲見世通り)

A 250-meter stretch of stalls between Kaminarimon and the temple — selling senbei (rice crackers), ningyo-yaki (filled cake-balls), agemanju (fried buns) and folding fans. Eat as you walk; locals do too.

3. Asakusa Shrine (浅草神社)

Tucked beside the temple, often missed. Quieter, with beautifully detailed Edo-era wood carvings. The Sanja Matsuri festival in May begins here.

4. Sumida River walk & Tokyo Skytree view

Cross to the river and look east — Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー) rises right across the water. The Azuma Bridge corner is the city's most photographed view.

5. Hoppy Street (ホッピー通り)

An open-air alley of standing izakaya near the temple's west side. Cheap motsu-nikomi (offal stew), grilled chicken, and "hoppy" — a vintage Showa-era beer mixer. Local lunch crowd from noon.

Local tip

Visit Senso-ji at 6 a.m. or after 9 p.m. — the temple grounds are open 24 hours, the lanterns are still lit, and the crowds disappear. The photos look completely different.

Where to eat in Asakusa

  • Tempura (天ぷら): Daikokuya is the legendary 130-year-old shop, queues but worth it.
  • Monjayaki / Okonomiyaki: Cross the bridge to Tsukishima for the city's best monjayaki street.
  • Sweets: Try freshly grilled ningyo-yaki at Kimuraya, dorayaki at Kameju.
  • Coffee break: Kissaten Angelus (closed) is gone, but Sabouru-style retro cafés survive nearby.

Dive deeper in the Tokyo Food Guide.

How to get to Asakusa

Asakusa Station is served by the Ginza, Asakusa and Tobu lines. From Shibuya: Ginza Line direct (about 35 minutes). From Narita: Keisei Skyliner to Ueno, then 5-minute taxi.

Best time to visit

Early morning for photos, mid-day for food, evening for lantern light. May (Sanja Matsuri) and August (Sumida River fireworks) are peak — both magical, both crowded.

Watch the walk

I filmed a slow morning walk through Asakusa's empty alleys before the crowds arrive. Watch on @golovenippon →