Local Trip Info offered by
Washington Hotel and Hotel Gracery

Within 5 min’s walk from Sensoji Temple! 3 artsy photo spot making you feel Asakusa’s tradition and culture

浅草文化観光センターの展望室からの景色(The view from observatory room of Asakusa Cultural Center)

Do you know that Asakusa has not only tourist spots where you can feel good old cultures but also an artsy side? This time, we’re going to introduce 3 recommended photo spots making your heart dancing and located within 5 minutes’ walk from Sensoji Temple. It’s also attractive that we can stop by at these spots while strolling around Asakusa and get in touch with Asakusa’s history and culture. Why not visit photogenic spots with a camera in your hand?

Appearing on Nakamise Shopping Street only in the morning and at night! The huge wall painting with a length of 400m “Asakusa Emaki”

浅草絵巻(Asakusa Emaki)

When about 90 shops on both sides of Nakamise-dori shopping street are closed and their shutters are pulled down, “Asakusa Emaki (浅草絵巻)” appears -a picture scroll depicting illustrations of Asakusa’s history and seasonal traditional events such as Sanja Festival and Sumida River Fireworks Festival. It seemed that Asakusa Emaki was born in 1989 as a part of a joint project with Tokyo University of the Arts, whose aim is to create new tourist attractions which still retains its old-world flavor from the Edo period. You can see it only from around 8:00 pm to 7:00 am, and it’s one of the best charms that Asakusa Emaki shows many faces according to the time of the day.At night, the illuminated paintings float in the darkness and allow you to feel a deep history of Asakusa.

Lighting TimeUntil around 9:00PM
Address1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
AccessHotel Gracery Asakusa: A 2-minute walk from the hotel
Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 10-minute walk from the hotel
URLhttp://asakusa-nakamise.jp/e-index.html

“Kazaguruma no Kabe,” the wall crammed with pinwheels having the feeling of seasons

浅草花月堂本店のかざぐるまの壁(Kazaguruma no Kabe (Wall of pinwheels) of Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Shop)

“Kazaguruma no Kabe (Wall of pinwheels)” of Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Shop, which is located along Nishi-Sando shopping street that extends behind Sensoji Temple.Lots of pinwheels adding colors to the wall with a width of about 7 meters creates a view with very Asakusa’s atmosphere and gorgeousness. It seemed that this decoration all started because of the owner’s feeling that he wanted to decorate colorful Japanese something.
The decorations including the colors of pinwheels change by seasons, so you can take photos with different atmospheres no matter how many times you visit here. In addition, let’s snap pics of illustrations, which depict Asakusa’s events such as Sanja Festival and Hozuki Market, displayed on the tiled roof with them! By the way, Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Shop is an old-established with 75 years of history and also famous for a jumbo melon-flavored bun.Although the bread is larger than your face, they make it fluffy by using their original fermentation method.We recommend you should head here before midday because 3,000 pieces sell out right away every day.

Opening HoursFrom 9:00AM
*It closes when jumbo melon-flavored buns are sold out.
Address2-7-13 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
AccessHotel Gracery Asakusa: A 10-minute walk from the hotel
Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 5-minute walk from the hotel
URLhttps://asakusa-kagetudo.com/en/

Overlook the scenery spreading around Asakusa! The Japanese modern style building “Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center” 

浅草文化観光センターの外観(Exterior of Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center)

Located across from Kaminarimon Gate, “Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center” tells us about Asakusa’s attractions in various ways such as four languages and exhibits. This building was designed by Kengo Kuma, who became a hot topic in the design of the new National Stadium.
It looks as if 7 traditional Japanese style wooden houses are stacked, and the cedar trees that are irregularly arranged on glass walls look like pillars supporting roofs. Despite being a modern building, it blends beautifully with the cityscape of Asakusa, where culture and history live, creating a wonderful sense of unity. Inside the building has also spots making you want to take pics. For example, a wooden miniature reproducing Asakusa elaborately. You’re sure to feel like you’re looking for spots to visit while seeing Asakusa from the sky. In addition, we recommend that you take pics of TOKYO SKYTREE, the cityscape and so on from the observatory terrace on the 8th floor.

Opening Hours9:00AM – 8:00PM
*Please check the official website because opening hours vary depending on each floor.
Address2-18-9 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
AccessHotel Gracery Asakusa: A 2-minute walk from the hotel
Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 12-minute walk from the hotel
URLhttps://tic.jnto.go.jp/detail.php?id=1078

Base of this trip

  • Hotel Gracery Asakusa
    Hotel Gracery Asakusa

    3-min walk from Asakusa station on the Toei-Asakusa line / 5-min walk from Asakusa station on the Asakusa line

  • Hotel Tavinos Asakusa

    4-min walk from Asakusa station on the Tsukuba Express line / 9-min walk from Tawaramatchi station on the Tokyo Metro line / 12-min walk from Asakusa station on the Toei Asakusa line