Things you have to do in Asakusa!

Asakusa Sensoji

A walk into the past is what many tourists dream of - to be able to see a city before it became what we have known today and to bath in it's atmosphere. While many of these old districts are very well preserved in Japan, not many can match the popularity of Asakusa, a shitamachi (low city) that lies in the center of Tokyo city.

Asakusa is easily accessible via the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, Tsukuba Express and Tobu Railways. It can also be accessed by the Tokyo Water Bus. 

Kaminarimon

This large lantern is the icon of Asakusa and the two characters on it reads Kaminarimon, which means Thunder gate. To get a clear shot of this place, you will have to be very early as tourists starts visiting as early as 6 am in the morning.

Prayers at shrines and temple

Apart from the famous Sensoji, there are several other temples and shrines around the area that you can visit. One of them being the Imado Jinja Shrine, also known as the Maneki Neko Shrine of the East; This shrine is a must visit for cat lovers. 

Dress up in Kimono/Yukata

Japanese kimono are pretty on the body and photographs, especially when walking through an old district like Asakusa. There are a number of shops specialising in the rental kimono, make-up, and hairdo; some of these shops does not require an advance appointment, but as all things in Japan, appointment is always welcome.

Guided tour on rickshaw

While Asakusa can easily be explored on foot, a guided tour on a rickshaw (jinrikisha, literally "man powered vehicle") provides a greater cultural experience, not to mention a better photograph. A lot of the guides are multi-lingual, friendly, and also buff, there is even a calendar featuring 

Tour the shopping streets

From the moment you stepped into Kaminarimon, you will be surrounded by two rows of small shops selling snacks and souvenirs. There are a number of these shopping streets scattered all around Asakusa, although they are not specialised in anything particular, it is still fun to just walk around them.

A walk along the river

Although this is more like a canal then a river (in term of cleanliness and structure), it host a number of scenic view along it and is especially popular during cherry blossom season and summer firework festival. You can also hop onto the river cruise for a short tour or otherwise just a stroll along it to take a clear view of the Skytree and Asahi Beer Building.

Dine and drink like a local

The number of restaurants and drinking places in Asakusa are plenty, from Kamiya bar - one of the oldest western-style bar in Tokyo to Hoppy Street, you are bound to have your fill. Monja Yaki is also a delicacy that you should try if you are interested in local food, it is a watery Tokyo version of the Okonomi Yaki and the restaurants that specialised in this are littered around the area. 

Tea house with a history

Matcha or green tea ice cream or desserts are common all around the world, but nowhere else can you find the flavour quite the same as that sold in Japan, after all it is a Japanese product; what is even more difficult to find is a real matcha gelato.

There is just one tea house at Asakusa, Suzukien that specialised in a wide variety of tea and tea-related products, and it is here that you will find up to a whooping seven different matcha gelatos for sale! It is graded from 1 to 7, 1 being the mildest and 7 is the darkest and richest of all. If you love matcha, why not give your taste bud a go and see if you can which grade do you most prefer.

Hit some home run

Unknown to many, there is actually a batting centre right in the middle of Asakusa. Although a little hidden away, it is just at the a street away from Shin-Nakamise, one of the shopping street. The batting centre can be crowded at times, so just buy your ticket and wait patiently for your turn.

Bath with the locals

If it is your first time in Japan, going into a bath house may be a bit of a scary experience, but if you visit the Jakotsuyu Sento at Asakusa, you are bound to feel more at ease. Over at this particular bath house, it is common to see bunch of tourists also immersing in the experience of a hot bath after a long day of shopping, eating, and walking, so there is no need to be shy, go ahead and join the crowd. 

Asakusa is really a very interesting district unlike most of Tokyo, and depending on the season there are also many festivals being held in around this area. If you are visiting Tokyo, remember to always drop by Asakusa, there is always something interesting to be discover.