4 Asakusa’s Unique Street Selected from 27 ones

The central area of Asakusa, where Sensoji Temple is located, is a densely populated area with 27 named “streets” centered around “Nakamise Street,” which is said to be the oldest shopping street in Japan. Each one has its own unique landscape, which makes you excited every time you walk. Among them, this time, we will introduce four streets that we would like to recommend as photo spots, along with history and highlights.

 Looking as if vermillion Torii stood in a row! ”Hisago Street”

“Hisago Street” has a total length of approximately 180m. The street is located 5 minutes’ walk from Asakusa Sta. on the Tsukuba Express, and it’s the arcade shopping street that extends from near Asakusa Hanayashiki to Kototoi Street (the main street behind Sensoji Temple). The vermilion pillar and the lantern, and also the unique flag with a colorful design make you feel more like the Asakusa atmosphere. By the way, “Hisago” means ‘Hyotan(gourd).’ This street was named because there was a Hyotan-shaped Pond opposite the entrance of the shopping street. Once, it is said that the street flourished as the road leads to Yoshiwara (red-light-district) from
Sensoji Temple. When you know history, doesn’t the vermilion steel frame look like the torii as if people lead to downtown? On both sides of “Hisago Street”, there are approximately 50 various genre shops such as Soba shops, noodle restaurants, fruit parlor, variety shops and so on.

Access

Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 13-minute walk from the hotel Akihabara Washington Hotel: A 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station which is 2 stations away from Akihabara Station on the Tsukuba Express Line Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 2-minute walk from the hotel

The street lined with hidden-like restaurants, “Asakusa Shokutsu Town”: Let’s discover long-established ones and new style one with Japanese dishes

You can find “Asakusa Shokutsu Town” in the alley that extends from Kaminarimon St. to Hoppy St.
The retro atmosphere makes you feel much more nostalgic when it’s drizzling. On both sides of the street stretches for about 150m, there are not only the restaurants have a long history, but also new ones that opened in the last few years. Founded in 1936, ‘PAICHI’ is famous for beef stew served in a Japanese-style iron pot. ‘Edosada’ is where you can have eel from Japan that is grilled with their original traditional sauce and Kamameshi(cooked rice in an iron pot) cooked with chicken broth. ‘MISOJYU’ which offers miso soup seasoned with organic vegetables, dried bonito, kelp and their special blended miso. In addition, there are also a variety of genres such as Monjayaki(a type of Japanese pan-fried) and Sushi.

Access

Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 5-minute walk from the hotel Akihabara Washington Hotel: A 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station which is 2 stations away from Akihabara Station on the Tsukuba Express Line Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 7-minute walk from the hotel

Shopping street which was firstly lit up with neon signs in Asakusa! “Kannon Shopping Street”

“Kannon Shopping Street” is located right outside of exit1 of the Asakusa Subway Sta. You can find easily the name ‘Kannon Street’ decorated with three-dimensional characters at the entrance of the arcade looking like a wooden lattice door. When Japan’s first subway opened between Asakusa and Ueno, the shopping street was directly connected to Asakusa Sta. which was built at the time. Therefore, the street was crowded with many people and was known as a stylish town before WWⅡ. It seemed that the neon signs lit up here for the first time in Asakusa district. On both sides of the street with a total length of about 150m that developed as the main approach of Sensoji Temple, the lanterns with warm light are lined up and create a very Asakusa’s atmosphere. In addition, there are many long-established shops such as Soba restaurants and cafes, dried Japanese food shops and hand-baked rice crackers ones. Some shops have a long history of over 100 years.👀

Access

Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 6-minute walk from the hotel Akihabara Washington Hotel: A 8-minute walk from Asakusa Station which is 2 stations away from Akihabara Station on the Tsukuba Express Line Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 12-minute walk from the hotel

“Denpoin-dori Street” whose street lights have funny illustrations

‟Denpoin-dori Street” with a length of approximately 200m runs in front of the gate of ‘Denpoin’ located on the west side of Sensoji Temple. It is a wide street, which crosses at right angles to Nakamise Street. There are about 20 retro eateries and souvenir shops, such as ‘Asakusa Menchi,’ ‘Daikokuya’ with a history of over 130 years and ‘Yonoya Comb Shop’ which has produced handcrafted traditional Japanese combs since 1777. Please pay attention to the street lights which are switched on in the evening, too! Japanese wordplay is drawn on them. It will make you laugh. In addition, the illustrations reminiscent of the city in the Edo era (1603 – 1868) are depicted on shutters, and 6 dolls related to Asakusa, including ‘Nezumi Kozo(鼠小僧)’ and ‘Shiranami Gonin Otoko(白浪五人男),’ are placed on some of roofs. Why not walk while exploring them?

Access

Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 3-minute walk from the hotel Akihabara Washington Hotel: A 4-minute walk from Asakusa Station which is 2 stations away from Akihabara Station on the Tsukuba Express Line Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 8-minute walk from the hotel