Asakusa Guide: Senso-ji, Skytree, and Old Tokyo Done Right

Asakusa is the Tokyo of postcards: the giant lantern at the temple gate, incense smoke and old wooden shopfronts. By late morning it is also one of the most crowded places in the city. Go early and with a plan and it makes one of Tokyo's best half days.

Senso-ji before the crowds

Arrive before 9 a.m. The temple grounds are open around the clock, and the main hall opens at 6 a.m. (6:30 a.m. from October to March). Early on, the Kaminarimon gate and its lantern are easy to photograph, and the main hall feels like a temple rather than a queue. Most of the Nakamise shops along the approach open around 9 or 10 a.m., so you trade shopping for space.

Etiquette: rinse your hands at the water pavilion, waft a little incense smoke over yourself at the large burner if you like, and don't block the paths for photos. See our temple and shrine etiquette guide.

Snacks on Nakamise: ningyo-yaki (small cakes filled with bean paste), rice crackers and soft-serve. Buy one or two things you will actually eat, and eat them by the stall rather than while walking.

A free view: across the street from the Kaminarimon, the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, a stacked-box building by the architect Kengo Kuma, has a free observation terrace on its top floor, looking down Nakamise to the temple with Skytree to the side.

Beyond the main approach

The side streets north and east of Senso-ji have craft shops, small shrines and quiet residential lanes. Five minutes away from Nakamise, the crowds thin out.

Kappabashi, a 10–15 minute walk west, is Tokyo's kitchen-supply street: knives, ceramics, lacquerware and the plastic food samples seen in restaurant windows. It is a good place to buy a real Japanese kitchen knife.

The Sumida River is a short walk east. Its riverside path leads toward Skytree, and sightseeing boats leave from near Azumabashi bridge for Hama-rikyu Gardens and Odaiba.

Tokyo Skytree

Skytree is about 20 minutes' walk from Senso-ji across the river, or one stop on the Tobu line. It has two decks, at 350 and 450 meters. Buy a date-and-time ticket online, especially for clear weekends and sunset, when the walk-up queue is longest.

For more ideas across the city, see what to do in Tokyo.

Food and culture nearby

Tempura and old-style restaurants. Asakusa has some long-established tempura and eel restaurants; book ahead for the best-known ones. See best tempura in Tokyo.

Kimono rental and tea ceremony. Many shops around the temple rent kimono by the day, and several offer short tea ceremony sessions. See our kimono guide and tea ceremony guide.

Sumo in Ryogoku. About 15 minutes away by subway or bus. See our sumo guide.

A sample half day

1. 7:30–9:30: Senso-ji and the Nakamise approach, early.
2. 9:30–11:00: the side streets, or Kappabashi.
3. 11:30 onward: Skytree with a timed ticket, or a tea ceremony or kimono rental.
4. Lunch near the temple, then onward by subway.

In the evening Asakusa is quieter and the temple is lit up, which makes good photos, but most shops close by early evening.

What to skip

Standing in front of the Kaminarimon for your photo while others wait. Take it and move on.

Buying a dozen souvenirs on Nakamise. One good craft purchase in the side streets or Kappabashi is better.

Skytree at midday without a ticket. Heat, haze and queues. Book a time.

FAQ

How long do you need in Asakusa? Half a day covers the temple, the streets around it and Skytree. Make it a full day if you add a tea ceremony, kimono rental or a long lunch.

Is Asakusa worth it if I hate crowds? Yes, early in the morning. After about 11 a.m. it is much busier.

Do I need a guided tour? No. The temple and the streets around it are easy to explore on your own.

Asakusa or Meiji Jingu first? They are on opposite sides of Tokyo: Asakusa in the old east, Meiji Jingu in the forest by Harajuku. Do them on separate half days.