Asakusa and Oshiage are located on the east side of Tokyo, and are home to popular tourist spots such as Senso-ji in Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree in Oshiage, attracting many people from Japan and abroad everyday. In this page, we will introduce in detail the popular areas of Asakusa and Oshiage, including tourist spots and trendy shops.
What are Asakusa and Oshiage neighborhoods like?
Asakusa, home to Senso-ji, which attracts more than 30 million visitors each year from Japan and abroad, and Oshiage, home to the Tokyo Skytree, are two of the most popular tourist spots in Tokyo. Since both areas are within walking distance of each other, it is a great idea to include the attractions from both in your sightseeing plan.
Let’s take a look at what characteristics each of them has.
What is Asakusa like?
Asakusa is one of the famous tourist attractions in Japan. It is a place where Japanese traditions and culture remain strong, and is crowded with many tourists everyday.
The famous Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo, is a tourist attraction, with the kaminari-mon Gate and Nakamise Shopping Street leading to the Main Hall (kannondo Hall) and the Five-Storied Pagoda. Nakamise Shopping Street is a fun place for tourists to stroll, with stores selling Asakusa’s famous ningyo-yaki (Japanese sweets made by baking sponge cake dough with red bean paste) and kaminari-okoshi (Thunder Rice Cracker) snacks.
What is Oshiage like?
Oshiage area is located across the Sumida River from Asakusa and is home to the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in Japan.
There are also several historical sites near Tokyo Skytree, including the Mukojima Hundred Flower Garden and Mukojima Akiba Shrine.
Asakusa’s Classic Tourist Attractions
Senso-ji (浅草寺)
Senso-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo. A large gate called kaminari-mon, which is also the symbol of the temple, is located at the entrance, and you can reach the Main Hall (kannondo Hall) and Five-Storied Pagoda through Nakamise Shopping Street.
The blessing of Senso-ji is ‘fulfillment of one’s wishes’. Therefore, Senso-ji is the most powerful sacred place where all of one’s wishes are said to be fulfilled in general, not just for a specific single benefit.
In addition to visiting the temple and drawing Omikuji (fortune-telling paper strip), you can also enjoy just strolling around the area, tasting Asakusa’s street food on Nakamise Shopping Street, lined with small stores, and looking for souvenirs. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in Japan that you should visit at least once.
Asakusa Hanayashiki (浅草花やしき)
Located a five-minute walk from Senso-ji, Asakusa Hanayashiki is the oldest amusement park in Japan. The main attraction is its retro atmosphere. There are many attractions that evoke a sense of history. Among them, Roller Coaster is said to be the oldest existing one in Japan and is one of the main attractions of Hanayashiki.
Since it is a small amusement park, visitors can fully enjoy it in about three hours, making it a perfect place to stop by while sightseeing!
Hoppy Street (ホッピー通り)
Hoppy Street is a street lined with izakaya (Japanese style pubs) in Asakusa and is a perfect place for bar hopping! As the name implies, the stores on the street serve a uniquely Japanese alcoholic beverage called Hoppy. Hoppy Street is also known as Nikomi Street, where many restaurants serve Nikomi (stewed dish), a Japanese traditional and popular food such as Gyusuji Nikomi (Beef tendon Stew) and Motsuni (Tripe Stew).
Most of the stores along Hoppy Street are open from noon. If you want to have a drink while enjoying the traditional Japanese atmosphere, go to Hoppy Street.
Oshiage’s Classic Tourist Attractions
Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー)
Tokyo Skytree, a sightseeing facility located in the eastern area of Tokyo, is a landmark and a popular tourist spot in Tokyo along with Tokyo Tower. It is one of the tallest towers in the world, standing at a height of 634 meters!
For more information about Tokyo Skytree, click here.
Tokyo Solamachi (東京ソラマチ)
Adjacent to the Tokyo Skytree is Tokyo Solamachi, a large-scale commercial facility with more than 300 stores offering a wide variety of goods.
Inside the building is divided into several themed areas, including one where you can find souvenirs related to Japanese culture, and also where fashion, general merchandise, and sweets stores are gathered, with a variety of interesting stores.
Tokyo Mizumachi (東京ミズマチ)
Tokyo Mizumachi is a commercial complex, located in between Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree, offering a variety of restaurants, general good shops and sport facility. It is also adjacent to Sumida Park so you can still experience the richness of nature in Tokyo.
Between Asakusa and Tokyo Mizumachi, there is a bridge called Sumida Riverwalk, which provides easy access to Tokyo Skytree.
Latest and Trendy Spots
MOCCA COFFEE Asakusa
MOCCA COFFEE is a coffee shop specializing in homemade-roasted specialty coffee that just opened on August 28, 2023. The store features a rabbit theme, with rabbit motifs hidden throughout. Roasted beans can be purchased online so you can also enjoy delicious coffee at home.
Asakusa Yokocho (浅草横丁)
Located about a 6-minute walk from Asakusa Station, Asakusa Yokocho is a spot that houses 7 restaurants and a kimono rental shop where you can enjoy Japanese festivals and food. Festivals are held regularly, and visitors can enjoy a variety of Japanese festivals such as Bon Odori (Bon dance) and Yosakoi Festival. The entire area is decorated with neon lights, making it a great photo spot!
Marugoto Nippon Asakusa (まるごと日本 浅草店)
Located about a 10-minute walk from Asakusa Station, Marugoto Nippon Asakusa is a spot that offers a wide variety of local specialties, local foods, and souvenirs from all over Japan. There are approximately 2,500 products! You can get foods from all over Japan without having to travel. There is also a space where visitors can try out Japanese sake and Japanese wine, making this a particularly good spot for those who love to drink, as they can enjoy rare alcoholic beverages.
Asakusa Dango Chaya Yotsuba-an (よつば庵)
Asakusa Dango Chaya Yotsuba-an opened in 2023 and is a dumpling store where customers cook their own dumplings on a shichirin (traditional charcoal grill). There are a variety of toppings available, so you can make them to your own liking.
MISOJYU
MISOJYU is a miso soup specialty restaurant located on the first floor of Tokyo Solamachi, at the foot of Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree.
The menu consists of Miso soup, Onigiri, and a small side dish called kobachi. Miso soup is an essential component of Japanese daily cuisine. At MISOJYU, you can enjoy miso soup with distinctive ingredients that differ slightly from those found in regular miso soup. The Asakusa main store is so crowded that numbered tickets are given out on weekends and holidays; the Tokyo Skytree store is not as crowded as the Asakusa main store, so it is a good place to go.
Tachigui Umeboshi Ya (立ち喰い梅干し屋)
Tachigui Umeboshi Ya is located on the 4th floor of Tokyo Solamachi, a commercial facility at the foot of the Tokyo Skytree. It is a standing-style umeboshi (picked plum) shop where you can enjoy dozens of different kinds of umeboshi with naturally made tea.
Umeboshi is a traditional food that has been eaten in Japan for a long time, and is made by pickling plum fruit. Although Japanese people are familiar with this food, there are only a few specialty stores that offer a wide variety of umeboshi, and this store is so popular that customers line up on weekends.
Particularly popular is the umeboshi comparison set, which allows visitors to choose and compare three different kinds of umeboshi. Of course, you can also buy them and take them home, so you can find your favorite pickled plums to take home as souvenirs.
MŪYA (むうや)
The most popular type of bread in Japan is sandwich bread, and there is popularity for specialty and luxurious sandwich breads recently. Bakeries now offer their unique sandwich bread options, contributing to the rise of specialty stores dedicated to these sandwich breads.
MŪYA in Tokyo Mizumachi is also one of the sandwich bread specialty stores. It is affiliated with a popular bakery called BREAD, ESPRESSO &. MŪYA is so popular that there is a line in front of the store waiting for the bread to be baked. Picnic sets are also available, so a picnic in the park nearby is recommended on sunny days!
Editor’s Picks: Recommended Food Selection
Pelican Cafe (ペリカンカフェ)
Pelican Cafe is owned and operated by Bakery Pelican, a long-established and popular bakery. Although the bakery sells only two kinds of breads, the sandwich bread and rolls, there are always the lines of eager fans waiting everyday.
Since it is a cafe shop of such famous Bakery Pelican as mentioned ealier, Pelican Cafe is also very popular, with customers lining up even before the opening hour. You can enjoy sandwiches made with Bakery Pelican bread and charbroiled toast.
LAND_A (ランドエー)
LAND_A is a Italian cafe-dining restaurant located in Tokyo Mizumachi, serving homemade dishes made with ingredients based on the concept of safety. The terrace seats are equipped with a BBQ.
Recommended Spots for Eat and Walk Around!
Asakusa Unana (浅草うなな)
Located an 8-minute walk from Asakusa Station, Asakusa Unana is famous for its grilled domestic eel onigiri! You can enjoy Japanese eel at a reasonable price. On busy days, numbered tickets are issued, resulting in long queues. Please be aware that the shop may sell out by the end of the evening!
8108 (hatoya) Asakusa (八十八浅草)
8108 Asakusa is the second branch of a popular Kyoto store, a Japanese tea stand in a renovated old house behind Sumida Park, where you can enjoy Japanese tea, lattes, and sweets using only carefully selected teas from Kyoto. The standard matcha latte can be topped with seasonal fruits and a perfect match with the bitterness of matcha.
Children-Friendly Outing Spots
Sumida Aquarium (すみだ水族館)
Sumida Aquarium is located directly under the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida-ku, Tokyo. The aquarium is completely indoors, so it can be enjoyed on rainy days and in any season.
The highlight of Sumida Aquarium is the Penguins area, one of the largest indoor open pools in Japan. The penguins can be observed at a close distance from each other.
To learn more about Sumida Aquarium, click here.
Chikyuu no Niwa (ちきゅうのにわ)
Chikyuu no Niwa is a playground for children located on the 5th floor of Tokyo solamachi, with three areas: kids garden, baby garden, and get garden. The children’s garden has a trampoline and slides. Although there are some outdoor terraces, most of the space is indoors, so it is not affected by the weather or the season.
A Little Further Afield, Savor the Food in Kuramae and Asakusabashi
Kuramae and Asakusabashi areas, located not far from the Asakusa and Oshiage areas, are popular spots in Tokyo area, with many stylish cafes and long-established restaurants. Both areas are only one train ride away from Asakusa Station and Oshiage Station, so it is recommended to visit both areas together.
Access from Asakusa Station:
- Kuramae Station is 1 stop away on the Toei Asakusa Line
- Asakusabashi Station is 2 stops away on the Toei Asakusa Line
Access from Oshiage Station:
- Kuramae Station is 3 stops away on the Toei Asakusa Line
- Asakusabashi Station is 4 stops away on the Toei Asakusa Line
marble
This standing-style cafe is a 5-minute walk from Kuramae Station. The only seating is at the counter, and the stylish shell-like tiles laid out at its base have become a trending topic on social media. The pudding is especially recommended.
Kashiya Shinonome (菓子屋シノノメ)
Located in Kuramae, this shop specializes in take-away baked sweets. The shop has an antique atmosphere with a wide selection of cookies, scones, and other baked sweets. They are perfect for everyday treats or small gifts.
Chigaya Kuramae (チガヤ 蔵前店)
This popular bakery-cafe is located in Kuramae. Breads, sweets, and baked goods are sold here, and especially the cute-looking doughnuts topped with a cream is popular. There are several varieties of cream doughnuts, and they all look cute!
In addition to Kuramae, there are also stores in Morishita, Nihonbashi, and Tsujido.
Pretty Good Coffee & Donut
Pretty Good Coffee & Donut is a cafe located in complex space called OUR near Asakusabashi Station and Kuramae Station. It offers a diverse menu that includes sandwiches made with homemade bread and craft beers from all over Japan. Among them, there are always 6 kinds of doughnuts including seasonal flavors, and freshly fried doughnuts can be enjoyed every day from 9:00 am.
CAFÉ Tarot
CAFÉ Tarot was created as a museum café for the Tokyo Tarot Museum, and visitors can dine and purchase museum goods. The interior is full of playfulness, with hidden tarot motifs such as the sun and several types of tarot cards to play with. All food is plant-based.
Frequently Asked Q&A
- How long does it take to walk from Asakusa to Oshiage?
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It takes about 20 minutes on foot, and can be reached in the shortest time by walking along the Sumida River Walk, a promenade that spans Asakusa and the Sumida River.
- Which train station is convenient for accessing Tokyo Skytree?
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The most convenient stations are ‘Tokyo Skytree Station’ on the Tobu Skytree Line, or ‘Oshiage (SKYTREE) Station’ on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Keikyu Line and Toei Asakusa Line.
- How far is it from the station to Tokyo Skytree?
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Tokyo Skytree Station is a 5-minute walk away, and Oshiage (SKYTREE) Station has a direct escalator connection, so you can reach Tokyo Skytree Town in about 1 minute.
