Did you ever get to visit Asakusa? If yes, you must already know how it holds the ancient essence of Tokyo and Japanese culture as a whole. Starting from traditional arts and crafts shops to super delicious food stalls – Asakusa has it all!
Asakusa is located in the Taito City of Tokyo, which is famous for its temples and festivals. During the Edo Period, the development of Asakusa as a place full of entertainment started coming to life.
It maintained its dignity as the major entertainment district for most of the time in the 20th century in Tokyo. Even though there are more vibrant tourist spots like Shinjuku and Shibuya, Asakusa retains its heritage throughout all its recovery after the war.
If you have not been to Asakusa, you might be wondering – What to see in Asakusa? What to eat in Asakusa? Well, this article will help you as a guide to all the interesting places and activities that you can try out. Let’s dig in!
Things to do in Asakusa (list of 21 super fun activities)
Asakusa has unlimited places to visit and activities to enjoy! To help you out, here is a list of the most popular things to do in Asakusa with detailed information about each:
1. Exploring Senso-ji Temple
Your visit to Asakusa is absolutely incomplete without Senso-ji Temple. It is, in fact, the oldest temple in Tokyo and one of the most famous tourist spots in Japan. This temple was founded way back in 628! You cannot forget to add this temple to the list of places to visit in Asakusa.
I absolutely love how colorful this Buddhist temple is, holding so many values and the essence of Japanese culture. Kaminarimon Gate, also known as Thunder Gate, is where visitors first enter before visiting the temple. This gate is also one of the popular attractions of Tokyo and holds a significant symbol of Asakusa.
Inside the temple, you can take a tour of beautiful gardens and also see the status of Kannon. Moreover, you can collect interesting souvenirs to remember the trip.
Sensoji Temple is only about a hundred meters away from the Asakusa station, and you can easily walk your way there.
From Tokyo Station, you will have to take the JY Yamanote Line to reach Kanda Station first. This will take you around 3 minutes and cost ¥150. From there, you will have to take the Ginza Line to reach Asakusa Station. This will take around 10 minutes and cost ¥180.
You can also travel from Shinjuku Station by first taking the JC Chuo Line to reach Kanda Station. This will take you around 11 minutes and cost ¥180. From there, you will have to take the Ginza Line to reach Asakusa Station. This will take around 10 minutes and cost ¥180.
Location: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032
Opening Hours: The main hall is open from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM (from 6:30 AM from October to March), while the temple grounds are always open.
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
2. Visiting Asakusa Shrine
Right next to Sensoji Temple, you can visit the Asakusa Shrine, which is also called Sanja-sama. It was developed back in the Edo Period. The shrine has witnessed a lot in history, including the raids of 1945. It reflects the native Japanese Shinto religion and celebrates the Sanja Matsuri festival every year. People enjoy this festival on the weekend during the middle of May, so tourists can visit during that time to participate.
Since it is beside Sensoji Temple, you can easily visit there following the same route as described for Sensoji.
Location: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032
Opening Hours: Every day from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
3. Going to Nakamise-Dori Street
Nakamise-Dori Street is another popular spot to visit near Sensoji Temple. You can get the feel of ancient Japan in the street filled with shops that the same family has run for generations. If you were wondering what to expect inside, let me give you some spoilers. The shops sell interesting souvenirs, incredibly delicious Japanese street food, fresh snacks, local artwork, etc.
You can get in there through the Kaminarimon Gate, as it acts like a bridge from there to the Hozomon Gate of Sensoji Temple. As it is right beside Sensoji Temple, you can find yourself for a snack break in Nakamise during your visit to Sensoji.
The street offers you over 90 different stalls to explore that remain open until around 5 PM. Even after the shops close up, you can admit interesting artwork on the shutters and the ambiance around the temple and it’s surrounding all lit up.
One of the most interesting items I have tried in one of the stalls is Ningyoyaki. They are small sponge cakes shaped like popular landmarks where you will find stuffing of red bean paste. You can also try different flavors of ice cream, including matcha green tea.
Location: 1 Chome-36-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032
Opening Hours: 24 hours every day
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
4. Take a visit to Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
This is another one of the interesting places to visit in Asakusa that is mainly dedicated to tourists, as you can already tell by the name. The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center was developed in 2012. It was an attraction for tourists and local people because of its outstanding architecture. It is an 8-storied building where tourists can find information desks in various languages to get to know more about the culture.
There is also free Wi-Fi available, along with a nice café and an observation deck. You can enjoy a nice view of Nakamise Shopping Street and Sensoji Temple from the observation deck. You can also enjoy a spectacular view of the Tokyo Skytree and Sumida River all at once!
The place is located right beside the Sensoji Temple opposite the Kaminarimon Gate, so you can easily walk there from the temple.
Location: 2 Chome-18-9 Kaminarimon, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0034
Opening Hours: Every day from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
5. Hopping on Hoppy Street (Hoppi-dori)
This street is mainly famous for cheap and affordable food options. The nightlife of this street is unimaginably colorful, with all the shops open all day to serve so many different food and drinks. Both sides of Hoppy Street are lined up with old-school stalls, which are also called izakaya.
The most popular Items on this street are pancakes, beef stew, and beer. Even though this street is also called Stew Street, the name “Hoppi-dori” comes from an almost non-alcoholic beer. My favorite izakaya of the street is Kanoya, Asakusa Natsuno, and Shochan.
Hoppy Street is to the west of Sensoji Temple, where you can go for a 5-minute walk. Even though the street is open all day, the shops may close around 12:00 AM, depending on the owners of each shop.
Location: 2 Chome-3-19 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032
Opening Hours: Every day, 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
6. Trying out Asakusa Yokocho
Asakusa Yokocho is a vibrant food court that has around 7 different restaurants as well as kimono rental shops. The food court is inspired by the various festivals of Japan, which is vividly reflected in the decoration of the place. You will find a bunch of “Instagrammable” spots with bright lanterns, festive walls, and interesting artwork.
Oftentimes, the place makes arrangements for fun dance performances to let the visitors get a chance to spectate bon odori, yosakoi, and awa odori dance forms. The place is located on the fourth floor of the Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building. You can reach there within 2 minutes of walking from Hoppy Street as it is right next to it.
Location: 〒111-0032 Tokyo, Taito City, Asakusa, 2 Chome−6−7 楽天地ビル 4F 東京
Opening Hours: Every day from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Kimono rental shops open from 10:00 AM)
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
7. Shopping at Asakusa Nishi-sandō Shopping Street
I just can’t get over all the fun shopping streets of Asakusa. The Nishi-sando shopping street is another favorite one because of all the variety of Kimono, traditional costumes, funky dresses, samurai souvenirs, etc., available! The most beautiful feature of this street is that the street is paved with wood that is painted bright red.
The street is about 150 meters long, and you can also find delicious bakeries and café sprinkled around. The renovation of the street back in 2014 absolutely brought a sense of liveliness all over the street. Moreover, if you visit during the cherry blossom season, you will see how spectacular it looks with all the pink flowers decorating the street.
The street is only a few minutes of walking away from Sensoji Temple to the west of it. You can easily visit the street after your trip to Sensoji Temple.
Location: 2 Chome-7-13 Asakusa, 台東区 Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032,
Opening hours: Every day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
8. Take a fun trip to Asakusa Hanayashiki
Asakusa Hanayashiki is known as the oldest amusement park in Japan. That was first started as a flower park way back in 1853. At present, the park has 17 different kinds of fun features with lunchrooms. You can also enjoy the shops around the park that sells original Japanese goods and cultural souvenirs.
One of the most interesting things about the park is Japan’s oldest rollercoaster. The rollercoaster has been in the park since 1953, and people still enjoy it! Even though it is not a huge amusement park, there are a lot of retro Japanese features of the park that both local people and tourists thoroughly enjoy.
Other attractive rides in the park include a Ferris Wheel, drop tower, merry-go-round, maze, haunted houses, 3-D theater, panda cars, and more! People also try out different interesting activities, such as experiencing Ninja culture, trying out Kimonos, and joining tea parties.
The park is very close to Asakusa Station, and you can walk there within 5 to 10
minutes.
Location: 2 Chome-28-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032
Opening Hours: Every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Closed: Open every day
Admission: ¥600 for people between 5 and 12 years old and over 65 years old. ¥120 for people between 13 to 64 years old. Admission is free for disabled people with
9. Sightseeing at Sumida Park
Sumida Park basically borders the Sumida River with its peaceful environment and greeneries. As you can get an amazing view of the Tokyo Skytree from there, people often click amazing pictures in the park with it in the background. Moreover, there are beautiful trees under the bridges (Azumabashi and Sakurabashi) where you can roam around and admire nature.
Furthermore, don’t worry if you have kids. There is a wonderful playground inside where you can let your kids enjoy and play around. Asahi Group Head Office Building is another sight you will get, which is right across the river. The tower is shaped like a mug full of beer topped with foam.
If you visit there during spring, you can experience the outstanding beauty of cherry blossoms all around the park. It is also one of the best spots to enjoy the amazing fireworks of Tokyo.
Sumida Park borders both sides of the Sumida River and is located very close to Asakusa Station. You can easily go to the park from the station within a 5-minute walk.
Location: 1 Chome Hanakawado, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0033
Opening Hours: Everyday 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
10. Sumida River cruising
If you think you are going to love watching the serene views of the Sumida River from the park, imagine cruising around on the river! Yes, there are several cruise tours on the Sumida River that take you to interesting places, such as Odaiba Kahin Park, Toyosu, Azusawa, Itabashi, etc. You can see so many places on the cruise while enjoying the wonderful experience of the river. It is one of the many fun things to do in Asakusa.
You can easily book a cruise for your one-way or two-way journey and choose your own package of available facilities. There are also some boats, such as Tokyo Mizube Line, available that do not require advance booking, and you can hop on for your tour on the spot.
The one-way cost of such tours can start from ¥1000 and go up to ¥5000, depending on which kind of boats you book.
11. Shopping at Tokyo Mizumachi
Tokyo Mizumachi is a super cool shopping mall alongside the Sumida River. The shopping mall is divided into main parts to the East and West, where you can find several nice, good places to visit, eat and chill along with fun shops and a sports complex. You will find both expensive and budget-friendly options in the mall to stroll around and explore.
The shopping complex was opened back in 2020, and it also has a hostel for tourists and people. People visit there for a nice view of the Sumida River as well as Tokyo Skytree and to enjoy their leisure time in peace.
Location: 1 Chome-2 Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0033
Opening Hours: Every day from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Closed: Open every day
Admission: Free
12. Exploring Tokyo Skytree
Who would want to miss out on visiting one of the tallest towers in the world, which is about 634 meters tall? The tower mainly has a massive shopping mall and aquarium located at the base. Visiting Tokyo Skytree is one of the top things to do in Asakusa, and it is going to be a memorable experience for sure!
Tokyo Skytree is mainly famous for the observation decks above 350 and 450 meters in the tower. They are the highest ones in Japan that let you have an amazing view of Tokyo all around.
The restaurants in the tower have a variety of cuisines, including authentic Japanese cuisine as well as interesting fusion cuisines. You will also find lounging areas and other interesting spots to click fun pictures and enjoy the view.
Tokyo Skytree is not far away from the Sumida River. In fact, it is about a 15-minute walk across the river from Asakusa. If you take the Tobu Skytree Line from Asakusa Station, it will only take you about 2 minutes.
People usually get tickets from the counter, but you can also book tickets in advance, which will cost you less and allow you to be free from the hassle of buying tickets on the spot.
Location: 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0045
Opening Hours: Every day from 10 AM to 8 PM (Entry allowed till 7 PM)
Admission:
Same-day ticket
You can buy same-day tickets directly from the ticket counter on the 4th floor of the structure. You can expect same-day tickets to sell out, so it is best to book your ticket in advance.
First observatory: ¥2100 on weekdays and ¥2300 on weekends or holidays
Both observatories: ¥3100 on weekdays and ¥3400 on weekends or holidays
13. Kappabashi Dougu Street visiting
Okay, now, this place may not be for every tourist, but Kappabashi Dougu Street is a wonderland for people who are into cooking! This place is basically the go-to spot for restaurant managers, as you will find all kinds of cooking elements needed. Starting from cooking utensils to different kinds of stored food, the place has it all!
You can try out interesting food samples to learn what goes into the making of Japanese food. Moreover, you can find all kinds of authentic Japanese utensils at a super affordable price range to decorate your kitchen.
The street is located between Asakusa and Ueno, which you can reach within only a 10-minute walk from Sensoji Temple.
Location: 3 Chome-18-2 Matsugaya, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0036
Opening Hours: Most shops are open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed: Most shops are not open on public holidays and Sundays
Admission: Free
14. Sanja Matsuri celebration
One of the biggest Shinto festivals in Tokyo is Sanja Matsuri. Not only Tokyo, but it is one of the largest festivals in Japan as well. Sensoji Temple was developed by Hajino Nakatomo, Hinokuma Hamanari, and Hinokuma Takenari. The festival is basically a tribute to these three men, which is celebrated royally.
Sanja Matsuri is held during the third weekend of May, and it goes on for 3 days straight. Every year, the expected dates are announced when tourists can decide to attend the festival. You can expect over 2 million people to visit Asakusa during these three days of the festival to celebrate and enjoy wholeheartedly!
The main attraction of this festival for tourists is the unique food stalls, gatherings, and games held all over the place. The activities and rituals of the festival are mainly held on the grounds of the Sensoji Temple and Asakusa Shrine. Tourists can plan their trip to Asakusa according to the expected dates of the festival to fully enjoy such an important aspect of the foreign culture.
15. Udon making
Udon is one of the most famous types of noodles in Japan, which is made of wheat flour. It kind of looks like Italian spaghetti, but Udon is much thicker than that. It is considered a very popular meal all over Japan as it is super easy to eat. Udon is mostly served with mildly flavored broth consisting of soya sauce, dashi, mirin, etc.
Making Udon is pretty artistic and is considered to be an interesting activity in Asakusa as well as in other parts of Japan. There are several Udon cooking classes at Asakusa that tourists can try out. Most of the sessions are like an hour or two that can cost around ¥5000 per person.
16. Eating delicious street food and bar hopping
Food lovers out there are obviously looking for some exciting street food experiences in Asakusa. Well, let me tell you what variety you have got if you are interested in trying out super delicious street food and bar hopping in Asakusa.
As already mentioned above, Nakamise-dori, Hoppi-dori, and so many restaurants and café are available to serve you the best taste of Japanese food as well as other fusion cuisines. You will find everything starting from an affordable range to expensive all over Asakusa. My favorite for street food has to be the Nakamise-Dori street as it has so many different stalls along with mini bars!
I have had so many interesting food items that I could never see randomly elsewhere. My favorites were strawberry dango, melon pan, and white strawberry daifuku. Being a sweet tooth, I absolutely loved trying out all the different kinds of desserts.
17. Attending Sumo Morning Practice
Sumo wrestling is one of the most interesting parts of the Japanese culture. Many tourists are often interested in watching their practice sessions which is why many practice sessions in Asakusa as well as all over Japan, are often available to watch. Some sumo stables arrange it for free, whereas some may charge up to ¥7000 for a session of 1 or 2 hours.
There are many rules to follow during the session for the tourists so that they do it disturb the wrestlers during their practice. Overall, it can be a fun one-time experience in Asakusa to get to know one more significant aspect of Japanese culture closely.
18. Wearing Kimono
Wearing a kimono and going sightseeing is one of the fun things to do in Asakusa. There are different shops and sites where you can rent your Kimono singly or in packages for your friends and family. Some services even provide hairstyles and make-up to make your experience even more authentic.
You can even style your look with hair accessories and umbrellas. Many services include photography sessions to capture your amazing trip and memories, wearing a kimono, and experiencing Japanese culture.
19. Experiencing Geisha Culture
Asakusa is one of the significant areas of Tokyo where you will find a considerable geisha population. Seeing them co-existing with the regular society of Japan is quite fascinating. Their attire and make-up always make them stand out in a crowd, along with their lifestyle.
Many tourist activity services in Japan, including Asakusa, offer to experience geisha culture as a part of the package. You can either watch them or dress as one to click pictures and go sightseeing. Sometimes, in the evening, you can even see them randomly entering traditional places and tea houses.
20. Riding A Rickshaw
Rickshaw ride around Asakusa was one of my favorite activities. Rickshaws in Japan are basically rides that involve a “rickshaw-puller” to carry you in them. Views of the sights of Asakusa in a rickshaw were surprisingly different and really fun.
You can book your rickshaw tour in advance, or you can also find the local ones standing near the stations to be booked on the spot. If you book from different services, you will often find the option to get a rickshaw-puller who speaks English to have better communication and learn more about the places if you are a foreigner.
The price range of such tours varies in different services depending on how much time you want to spend and how many people are going to be riding.
21. Asakusa Cultural & Street Food Walking Tour
If you are too lazy to plan a trip, you can always choose to book from hundreds of services that arrange it for you! There are many packages that include visiting a bunch of tourist spots all together in a single day, which may include the admission fee for all. You can easily arrange a trip for yourself according to your budget and schedule.
The perk of booking a package tour altogether is to enjoy the spots without worrying about their location and transportation.
Where to stay in Asakusa?
Finding a hotel in Asakusa is not at all a hassle. There are several hotels all around the area that you can choose from according to your budget and preference. Starting from affordable hostels to luxury hotels, you can pick whatever floats your boat!
You can also book your hotel in advance to make an informed decision by looking at all the detailed facilities and expenses. Some of the affordable options are Sakura Hostel Asakusa, Hotel Sunroute Asakusa, Smile Hotel Asakusa, etc. You can also try out the expensive options like Asakusa Tobu Hotel, Hotel Gracery Asakusa, KOKO HOTEL Residence Asakusa Kappabashi, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is Asakusa famous?
In general, Asakusa is famous for its incredible landmarks, such as Sensoji Temple and Tokyo Skytree. No matter how many times one visits Japan, Asakusa is not something to miss. People mainly visit Asakusa for the tourist-friendly atmosphere and the photographic spots.
Moreover, going to Asakusa is fairly simple as well! Asakusa is right at the center of Tokyo, where you can visit by train within 30 minutes to an hour if you are already staying somewhere in Tokyo. There are several train rides from popular places like Shinjuku or Shibuya.
Is Asakusa worth a visit?
If you visit Tokyo, you simply cannot miss Asakusa. It is definitely one of the must-visit tourist spots of Japan that are filled with the essence and heritage of Japan. Besides Sensoji Temple and Tokyo Skytree, there is so much more to do! Nakamise Shopping Street is one of my favorites as you can shop for so many incredible shops selling a variety of souvenirs and local handmade products. There is also a lot more to the place, which I will talk about below.
How long to spend in Asakusa?
If Asakusa is a part of your Japan or Tokyo trip, I would say a day trip is a minimum to visit the most popular places. However, you can easily spend a couple of days properly visiting the interesting spots of Asakusa as well as experience the vibe and culture thoroughly.
How far from Tokyo to Asakusa?
In general, you have to cover around 5 km of distance to travel from Tokyo Station to Asakusa. There are different subway options as well as a subway and then a train or bus to your destination. You can also take a taxi, but that may not be the most affordable option.