Spanning over 5 generations and more than 100 years, Bunsendo Sensu (Sensu= folded fans) Shop has been hand crafting their fans to perfection. They have two locations, one right on the Nakamise Shopping Street at the Sensoji Temple and one at Kaminarimon Yanagikoji where you can find a large variety of hand made folded fans. They are perfect for souvenirs especially during the summer time!

Address: 1-30-1,Asakusa,Taito-ku,Tokyo / 1-20-2,Asakusa,Taito-ku,Tokyo

Hours: 10:30am - 6pm

Website: http://asakusa.gr.jp/en/archives/81

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line

 

This traditional box wood comb shop started out in modern day Bunkyo, Tokyo in 1717 and moved to it’s current spot in Asakusa in the early 1900s. Yonoya has passed down their comb making traditions throughout all these generations and have kept the same exact way of making it since they opened up 300 years ago. Originally made only for professional hairdressers to style women and mens hair, they now sell combs to regular people and is said to help improve your scalp and hair health. Get your own, traditionally wooden comb here.

Photo credit: Yonoya website

Address: 〒111-0032 1-37-10 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Closed every Wednesday (occasional Thursday), 10:30am-6:00pm

Tel: 03-3844-1755

Website: http://en.yonoya.com/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line.

 

Sakai Kokodo has been reproducing some of Japan’s most famous woodblock prints for over a century now. They sit on the Nakamise shopping street that leads up to the famous Sensoji temple in Asakusa and sell some of the finest reproductions. Here you’ll find famous works like Hokusai’s Great Wave and Mt. Fuji prints in all different sizes. They even sell prints as postcards which could be the perfect souvenir to take back from Japan.

Photo credit: Sakai Kokodo website

Address: Sakai Kokodo, 1-20-1 Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo

Hours: 9:00am -6pm

Tel: +81 3-3841-0850

Website: https://www.ukiyoegallery.net/html/english/shop.html

How to get there: Located inside the Nakamise Shopping Street on the way to Sensoji Temple. A 1 minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line.

 

Kamiya Bar opened up in 1880 and is the first western style bar in Japan. Their special house drink, Denki Bran (Electric brandy), has been served here for over a century. Its a mix of brandy, gin, vodka, curacao, herbs and other secret recipes to make this tasty alcoholic drink. It use to have a 45% percent alcohol content back in the day, but has been dropped down in recent times. You can order two different Denki Brans, one with 40% or one with 30% alcohol content. But beware, its tasty and cheap (about 2 US Dollars for a generous pour) so choose wisely!

Address: 1 Chome-1-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

Hours: Closed Tuesday, 11:30am - 10pm Monday-Saturday

Website: http://www.kamiya-bar.com/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Asakusa Station, Exit 3 on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line

 

Nakamise is the most famous shopping street in Asakusa. The street runs for 250 meters on the main approach to Sensoji Temple and is lined on both sides with shops selling traditional souvenirs, snacks, and sweets.

This street is actually on temple property and so it starts and ends with a temple gate: at the southern end is the outer gate of Kaminarimon, and at the northern end is the inner gate of Hozomon. Between these two gates are 89 shops, with 54 shops on the east side, and 35 shops on the west. “Nakamise” is a traditional name given to shopping streets on the grounds of temples or shrines, so this is not the only “Nakamise” in Japan, but it is one of the oldest and most famous.

Summary Credits: Asakusa Station Information

Photo Credit: JW Magazine

Address: 1 Chome-36-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

Hours: 10am - 5pm

Website: http://asakusa-nakamise.jp/e-index.html

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line

 

Being near a waterside bay and having many rivers comes in handy for Tokyo as alternative route options to get around the city. There are a few companies that run boats to get around the city. The Water Bus, is a unique option to tour Tokyo and a different alternative to trains and taxis. Most notably conveniently locations for the Water Bus are the man made islands a long the Tokyo bay - especially Odaiba and it’s entire shopping and entertainment complex. Another notable location where the Water Bus leaves from is the Hamarikyu Gardens and Asakusa Pier.

Most of the Water Buses are operated by The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company and travel up and down the Sumida River - a very famous river in Tokyo. It also has access to the popular Eastern and Northern parts of Tokyo such as Asakusa and Ryogoku.

Entrance Fee: Depending on your destination and location, tickets can range between 400-2000 Yen.

Photo credit: Suijo Bus

Address: N/A

Hours: Depending on location and destination first buses leave around 10am and last ones about 4-5pm.

Website: https://www.suijobus.co.jp/en/

How to get there: There are multiple piers and stations which are shown below on a map.

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

This broadcasting and observation tower is the tallest structure in Japan at a staggering 634 meters (2080ft) which also makes it the tallest tower in the world and the second tallest structure in the world behind the Burj Khalifa. Opening in 2012, the Skytree overtook the Tokyo Tower’s job as the Kanto regions primary television and radio broadcasting site as the Tokyo Tower became overcrowded with surrounding high rise buildings.

The tower also features many shops within the structure such as the Tokyo Solamachi with over 300 shops and restaurants, Tokyo Skytree Town, the Sumida Aquarium and many other attractions.

Entrance fee:

The tower has 2 viewing decks which differ in price. Prices also vary depending on age and time of the year. With all these considered the prices can range from 500 - 4200 Yen.

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-8634

Hours: 8:00am - 10pm (last admission 9pm)

Website: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

How to get there: Direct access from Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line or Oshiage Station on the Tokyo Metro Asakusa and Hanzomon Line and Keisei Oshiage Line.

 

Being the oldest temple in Tokyo, Zojoji dates back to 628, when two fisherman were fishing nearby in the Sumida River and were surprised to see that they had caught a statue. They brought the statue to their village headman and he was surprised to see that it was a statue of Kannon - the buddhist deity associated with compassion. The village headman converted his home to a place of worship. The area grew in popularity with many visitors and worshipers and even became an important place where shoguns (the military dictator) had their offerings.

Today, it’s a very popular and important temple that is surrounded by many cultural and traditional stores which include the famous Nakamise shopping street - a large line of shopping vendors that lead up to the temple.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

Hours: The shopping street hours are from 10am - 5pm

Website: http://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line and Tsukuba Express.