Asakusa 浅草 & Around
Sensō-ji temple & artisan shops
The main reason for coming to Asakusa is to visit the Sensō-ji Temple, said to have been completed in 645.
Visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), then walk along Nakamise, a bustling shopping street, before reaching the Hozomon Gate. The temple's main hall and a five storied pagoda are beyond here.
Fascinating Kappabashi shopping street is ‘kitchenware street’, lined with shops catering to restaurant businesses - dishes, pots, pans, cooking utensils - and most interesting of all, those plastic food samples used by restaurants throughout Japan in their show windows.
As it’s only a 20-30min walk across the Sumida River to Tōkyō Skytree, consider combining these two in one trip.
The popular Sanja Matsuri festival is held at the Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa in the 3rd weekend of May.