We lived in Tokyo for three months last year, and Asakusa is the neighborhood we kept going back to more than any other.
The area's whole history starts with a legend. Around 628 CE, two brothers fishing in the Sumida River pulled up a small statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. They put it back in the water, and it kept turning up in their nets, so a temple was built to house it. That temple became Sensō-ji, completed in 645 CE, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo.
For most of the Edo period, Asakusa was Tokyo's main entertainment district, home to kabuki theaters and eventually Japan's first movie theater. Large parts of it were destroyed in the air raids of 1945, including Sensō-ji's main hall and its five-story pagoda. What stands today is a postwar rebuild, and the neighborhood never fully got its nightlife crown back since it now belongs to Shinjuku and Shibuya. If you only have a day or two in Asakusa, this is the shortlist: our top three picks for food, attractions, cafes, shops, and things to do, plus where we'd tell you to stay.
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Top 3 Attractions
1. Sensō-ji. Tokyo's oldest temple and the reason most people visit Asakusa in the first place. Skip the crowd at the main gate and go to Nitenmon Gate on the east side for a quieter photo with the temple in the background.
2. Kaminarimon Gate. The giant red lantern gate marking the entrance to the temple complex, and one of the most photographed spots in the neighborhood. If you want a solo shot with the lantern, you'll have to arrive super early in the morning.
3. Nakamise Shopping Street. The old shopping street running from Kaminarimon Gate to the temple, lined with shops selling snacks and souvenirs. Go early before it gets crowded, and come hungry if you want to sample many things.
Top 3 Foods
1. Benizuru Pancake. Get here early. This soufflé pancake spot hands out a limited number of reservation tickets each morning, and it draws a line before it even opens. It's known for it's light, jiggly rice-flour pancake made to order at the counter in front of you.
2. Age.3 ASAKUSA. This chain blew up on social media thanks to its three locations in Tokyo. Think of it as a fried sandwich filled with many different stuffings you can pick from. During our visit, we tried their limited edition egg and unagi.
3. Waunn. Our favorite spot on this entire list. Not only were the presentations of the dishes super aesthetic, but they were some of the best sashimi bowls we had anywhere in Japan. It's pricy, but each bite that melted in our mouth was totally worth it.
Top 3 Cafes
1. Suzukien Asakusa. Home of the famously intense matcha gelato, with flavor levels running from mild to an amount of matcha that catches most people off guard. Besides gelato, they also have a small selection of green tea and dango.
2. Hatoya Asakusa. Open since 1927 and one of the oldest cafes in the neighborhood, known for hotcakes that date back to before World War II and, more recently, a matcha latte that's picked up a following online.
3. Asage Cafe Riverside Deck Cafe & Bar. The food is just okay, but the view of Tokyo Tower from the deck is worth the stop, especially around sunset. Make reservations if you want to be seated outdoors with the view, and luckily, blankets will be provided when it's cold.
Top 3 Shops
1. Kanaya Brush. A hundred-plus-year-old brush shop, and the place where we found the best lint brush we've ever owned. It's also great for pulling off old sweater pilling and fuzz that's been stuck on our clothes to give it a refresh.
2. Hikeshi Spirit. Clothing and accessories inspired by Edo-period firefighters, with a design style you won't find anywhere else in the city. If you're looking for a unique souvenir from Japan that you can wear back home, this is the place.
3. SEIKO Global Brand Core Shop by BROOCH ASAKUSA. A jewelry and watch repair shop tucked into a quieter street, handy if you're into watches or need something repaired.
Top 3 Activities
1. ASAKUSA SUMO CLUB. A dinner show where you watch a sumo demonstration up close while eating chanko nabe, the same hot pot sumo wrestlers eat to bulk up. At the end, you can even challenge the sumo wrestlers to a match...if you dare. You can book it here.
2. Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. A free observation deck on the top floor, right across from Kaminarimon Gate, with views of both Sensō-ji and Tokyo Tower. There's a cafe up there too if you wanted to be seated inside with a drink while enjoying the view.
3. SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM TOKYO. More hands-on than a typical museum. You get to try on armor and handle real weapons before learning some of the history behind it. Buy your tickets in advance and practice your ninja star throwing skills.
Where to Stay
1. Onyado Nono Asakusa is our pick if you want to wake up right in the neighborhood. It's part of the Dormy Inn chain and has its own natural hot spring bath, a nice way to relax after walking around all day. There's also complimentary ice-cream and ramen in the evening too. If you haven't experienced a ryokan experience in Japan, this is a great way to do it without traveling all the way to Kyoto.
2. THE GATE HOTEL Asakusa Kaminarimon by HULIC sits right at the Kaminarimon gate, close enough to see Sensō-ji from the property. It's a design-forward hotel with a rooftop bar looking out over the temple and Tokyo Skytree, a good spot for a drink once the sightseeing is done for the day. Besides the convenience, you'll be able to enjoy amazing views without paying an extra fee or dealing with the crowds.
3. OMO3 Asakusa by Hoshino Resorts is run by one of Japan's most respected hospitality brands, a one-minute walk from Sensō-ji. The 13th-floor lounge has panoramic views of the temple and Skytree, and the hotel runs free guided walks through the neighborhood led by local staff. There's also a 24-hour self-service station stocked with traditional sweets and inari sushi from shops nearby.
Before You Go
Asakusa is walkable end to end in under twenty minutes, but the good stuff is in the side streets, not the main strip between Kaminarimon Gate and the temple. Give yourself more time than you think you need, especially if a Benizuru Pancake ticket or a kimono rental is on your list, both of those work best with an early start. Weekday mornings are the quietest window before the tour groups arrive, and the Nakamise shops start closing up by early evening, so plan food and shopping earlier in the day and save the sumo show or a rooftop drink for after dark.
