Take a walk and try some local foods

You can walk from Asakusa station to Senso-ji Temple quickly and just take a few selfies or spend more time here and explore. Senso-ji is the oldest temple in the city and the area around it is filled with cafes, restaurants, izakaya, and of course souvenir shops. A Japanese travel custom is the reason for this: Japanese travelers are out to buy “omiyage” (souvenirs) to bring back for friends, family, and colleagues. Luckily some of the most popular omiyage are sweets and snacks that you can try during your walk.

Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center

The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center in front of Senso-ji Temple’s Kaminarimon Gate is a good place to start your visit. Ask the staff for information and suggestions. The Center also has public restrooms and a money exchange. To get an overview of Asakusa, go up to the top floor and see Senso-ji Temple and Sumida River from the 8F terrace observatory and café. The terrace also has an excellent view of Azuma-bashi Bridge, Tokyo Skytree, and the golden Asahi Beer Headquarters building.

Guided walking tour of Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa Shrine

If you don’t want to explore the area by yourself, join a guided walking tour. There are different Asakusa Walking Tours available. The Tokyo SGG Club offers free walking tours starting from the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center on Saturdays and Sundays. SGG stands for Systematized Goodwill Guide and SGG tours are conducted by volunteer guides. Please see the Tokyo SGG Club website for details https://tokyosgg.jp/guide.html.

The SGG Tour of Asakusa takes about one hour and will take you from Kaminarimon Gate to the main buildings of Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa Shrine. This is one of the few places left where a Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine are still standing next to each other. Senso-ji Temple welcomes people of all backgrounds and the guide can explain what to do when you visit. On your way through Nakamise Street you can try some popular snacks and sweets and learn about local history and traditions.

Add a rickshaw ride or yakatabune cruise

After the tour have lunch or coffee at a local restaurant or cafe before you see more of the surrounding streets. You can also explore further with a comfortable rickshaw ride. The rickshaw drivers can show you around and know the best local spots. Another option is to take a yakatabune cruise on Sumida River and see the city from another perspective while you enjoy a Japanese meal on the water.