A trip under bridges on Sumida River
Sumida river, on eastern part of main Tokyo, is full of beautiful bridges. One can take a boat ride from traditional town of Asakusa to beautiful Hamarikyu gardens which goes under a series of beautiful bridges. Come of the so called water buses also have an open deck on the top which makes the exp…(100 words)
Sanjeev Sinha
River Trip Tokyo Asakusa
First Visit for the New Year - Hatsumode
Many Japanese people visit shrines and temples during the first days of the year. It is a way to start into the new year. The new year starts at midnight, so people line up already in the evening of December 31. At the big popular places like Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa or Meijijingu in Harajuku it …(161 words)
David
New year Hatsumode Tokyo Asakusa Tera (Temple) Senso-ji Temple Jinjya (Shrine) festival
Asakusa's Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street in the Evening
Many tourists visit Asakusa and the Senso-ji temple during the day and it gets quiet in the evening. As one of the major tourist attractions in Tokyo, it is usually quite crowded here, but by the time the shops close in Nakamise-dori between 18:00 and 19:00 most visitors leave. At night, the temple…(194 words)
David
Asakusa Senso-ji Temple Japanese style shopping arcade Tera (Temple) Evening Art painting illumination
Cherry blossoms: Sakura Time & Timing in Japan
Sakura 桜 are all things cherry, everything cherry blossoms and cherry trees. Think of sakura as a season in Japan, the height of spring. When will the cherry blossom start to open and how long will they last? This question is essential for hanami planning and discussed in detail in the media e…(345 words)
David
Spring Cherry blossom Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Flower Asakusa Japanese Culture Japan Travel
Walk & Play at Sumida Park in Asakusa
When you visit Asakusa, don't only go to Senso-ji temple. Also go to Sumida River and take a walk in Sumida Park. The park has great views of Tokyo Skytree and a big playground for children. There are also two small cafes here overlooking the river. To reach Sumida Park go towards the river from As…(143 words)
David
Asakusa Playground Tokyo Skytree Park Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Sumida river Tokyo Cherry blossom Children
Hanami - another way to enjoy (for the next year)
Belatedly, let me introduce another way to enjoy cherry blossoms - please take this FYI for the next year :-)Yakata-Bune is the traditionally shaped smallish boat to go up and down the river. There are a few boat operators in Tokyo and one of them is in the canal near Shinagawa station. It ha…(170 words)
KIH
Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Tokyo Asakusa Cherry blossom River Lunch view Cruise Yakatabune
The season of fireworks will start soooooon!
Summer is the season of fireworks. In Japan, it is an absolutely orgiastic affair. Not to be missed. To attend these fireworks, you need to prepare for extreme crowds, more or less disciplined, and to gear up with: drinks (if possible alcoholic one if you are more than 20 years old), a yukata (…(162 words)
Claire
Fireworks Tokyo Summer Asakusa Kamakura
Asakusa area has a lot of great sightseeing spots
Asakusa area has a lot of great sightseeing spots and you can ride on a “jinrikisha” (rickshaw) to travel around popular historical spots, enjoying interesting explanations given by jinrikishaman. You can select a tour time from a couple of options such as 30 minutes and 60 minutes. We had one arou…(110 words)
Daijo
Asakusa Communication jinrikisha
Tsukemen - ramen noodles dipped in rich sauce
Shops making tasty ramen noodles are everywhere in Japan. Get off the train at just about any station and chances are that you will find a ramen shop nearby. Many ramen shops offer ramen (noodles served in a bowl of soup) and tsukemen (noodles and soup served separately) and some shops actually spe…(262 words)
David
Tsukemen Ramen noodles Asakusa
Fresh Handmade Udon and Soba Noodles
The best udon and best soba is from restaurants that make their noodles fresh. This is a sign of a tasty shop, so the noodles will often be prepared near the entrance where you can see them. Watch the dough being rolled out and cut, it is fun.To find the restaurants serving the tastiest food, a…(243 words)
David
Soba noodles Udon noodles Restaurant Tempura Food Shop Asakusa
Local Secret: Kappabashi
A 15 minute walk down 'Butsudan Road' (where all the Buddhist altar companies have their showrooms) from Ueno station lies Kappabashi, a street full of restaurant goods. These range from awesome crockery to individual taiyaki (fish-shaped cake) forms, and of course the amazing plastic food you…(167 words)
Chiara
local secret Building Asakusa Coffee Ueno Rice cracker Souvenir
Nakamise, the main street of Asakusa between Kaminarimon and Hozomon
There are about 90 shops here in Nakamise. You can find Japanese traditional crafts, Kimonos, Japanese dolls, Ukiyoe, tenugui (Japanese towels) and chopsticks as well as Ningyoyaki (sponge cake), Osenbei (rice crackers), Japanese sweets and shaved ice. At Funawa, cold Matcha drink and sweet potato …(144 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Drink Shopping Sweets Rice cracker Shop good luck Ukiyoe chopsticks Souvenir
Places to feel like locals in Asakusa
Do you know the third oldest underground passage in Japan is at Asakusa Station? The street is connected to a ticket gate of Ginza Line and the entrance of Shin-Nakamise Street. Most of the tenants are restaurants such as Sushi, Soba, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai foods. You also find a fortune-tell…(157 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Hoppy Underground shopping arcade Restaurant Sushi Building Visit Soba noodles Bar
Enjoy to watch making something on the streets in Asakusa
In Asakusa, there are many shops where you can see the procedure to making something. Iriyama Senbei is located at Sushiya Street, while Ichiban Hanaya is located at Shin-Nakamise Street.There are many Ningyoyaki shops along Nakamise Street. Japanese tend to prefer the hand-made Ningyoyaki and of c…(95 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Rice cracker Shop Cake Fish Taiyaki (Fish-shaped cake) Ningyo-yaki
Enjoy Autumn in Asakusa
Asakusa Touroue is held from September 13 through 27. Many Tourou (lanterns) light up the alleys in Sensoji. Visit at night. You can see a dance by Geisha at Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center on Saturdays (see below). The tickets will be available at the Center from 10:00 each day on a fir…(161 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Restaurant Event Visit Food Tempura Ueno Eat dance Lantern
Street Performers, Arts & Entertainment in Asakusa - Local Tokyo
Senso-ji temple is the most famous spot in Tokyo's Asakusa district, but there is more to see. Performers and performing arts are also part of Asakusa’s heritage. So when you come to Senso-ji and look at the temple’s buildings, statues, and big gates don’t stop there. Please take a walk around …(623 words)
David
Asakusa Art Japanese style shopping arcade Tokyo Walk Senso-ji Temple Theater
Kaisendon - Sashimi Pub Lunch at a Seafood Izakaya
How is your sushi vocabulary and experience? If you have tried a few sets of sushi and sashimi, try kaisendon. Kaisendon is sashimi on rice. Don 丼 is short for donburi, food served on top of a bowl full of rice. Magurodon for example is tuna on rice, kaisendon is mixed seafood on rice. It coul…(283 words)
David
Izakaya Sashimi (Raw fish) Lunch Fish Sushi Seafood Tokyo Asakusa
Torinoichi (or Otorisama)
Torinoichi is held at Ohtori Shrine and Chokokuji Temple, next to each other. This year (2014), the event is on November 10 and 22. As people buy a little bigger Kumade, called Kakkome, every year, the Kumade is going to be huge. It is interesting that this festival starts at midnight (0:00) and en…(98 words)
Keiko, OTT
year-end Tokyo Event Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) festival Horse Decorated Asakusa
Hakata Ippudo Ramen in Asakusa
Asakusa is known for the sweets and senbei sold near Senso-ji temple, but there are also quite a few ramen shops in this area. There must be at least 20. The newest one is Hakata Ippudo Ramen's new Asakusa store. It just opened this March in the new ROX 3G building near the TX Asakusa station.I…(278 words)
David
Asakusa Ramen noodles Chinese dumpling Tokyo
How to enjoy Matsuri in Shitamachi
May is the most comfortable month in Japan. Sun shines, flowers bloom and wind blows softly. However, in Shitamachi, May is the season of Matsuri, the summer festivals of Shrines.Usually, the main events including Miya-Mikoshi is on Sunday. In the early morning Mikoshi is started from a shrine …(241 words)
Keiko, OTT
Japanese festivals Tokyo Summer Food Asakusa Jinjya (Shrine) Ueno Yakitori yatai kanda
SKY HOP BUS
SKY HOP BUS is a sightseeing bus you can freely hop on and hop off as much as you want within the validity period of your ticket. The ticket is available in 1 Day or 2 Day Pass. There are three tour routes; Asakusa-TOKYO SKYTREE course, Odaiba course, and Roppongi-Tokyo Tower course. You can hop on…(202 words)
OH
Bus Tokyo Asakusa Hotel Building English Ticket Roppongi Japan view
July Events in Asakusa and Ueno
Asagao means Morning Glory. Iriya Asagao Ichi is held at and around Iriya Kishimojin Temple. This event is held on 6, 7 and 8 July every year. This year, the street (Kototoi Dori) will be closed from 17:00 to 21:30 on these days. Time and Place:6, 7 and 8 July at Iriya Kishimojinone minut…(222 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Event Tera (Temple) Music Flower Ueno Traditional Market Summer
Sumida River Fireworks Festival
Sumida River Fireworks Festival is one of the major annual events of summer in Tokyo. The evening sky of Tokyo turns into dazzling colors with spectacular fireworks.Good spots for viewing the fireworks display are along the Sumida River from downstream of Sakurabashi Bridge to upstream of Kotot…(177 words)
OH
River festival Fireworks Tokyo Japan Summer Asakusa Event Walk Ginza
September Events around Asakusa
Donburi Grand Prix will be held during this event. Eat and vote your favorite Donburi. In Japan, we have various Donburi, such as Gyudon (Beef rice bowl), Kaisendon (Seafood rice bowl) or Tendon (Tempura rice bowl). This year, 78 restaurants joined this event and compete to win the prize for best D…(131 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Ueno Japan Food Event Eat festival Autumn
More important words than fortune. Words needed in the tavern
If you come to Tokyo, do you want to enter the tavern, “I-ZAKA-YA”？Only beer and sake.Table is also small.There is what you need to go to the I-ZAKA-YA of Japan.It is the word "TORI-AEZU- BI-I-RU!" and "O-KAI-K!".If you do not use these two words,You also not be eat cuisine foreve…(143 words)
asteka
Food Drink Asakusa Japanese Tokyo Japan Beer Tea Shop Sake (Rice wine)
How to spend one day in east Tokyo, for first-time visitors to Japan
Senso-ji Temple: Make your visit special by putting on a Kimono“Kimono is usually made of silk or hemp, beautifully dyed or embroidered. Yukata is made of cotton, the Kimono for summer. Most of Ryokan (Japanese hotels) prepare Yukata in each room as a sleepwear, but you can get out with Yukata …(553 words)
DeepJapan
Tokyo day trip Japanese food Asakusa Kappabashi Japanese garden Matome Department store Souvenir