Asakusa Japan: Tokyo's Geisha District
Visiting Asakusa Tokyo is Like Stepping Into Another Time ZoneAncient Japanese culture comes to life in this area. The area has a very Traditional feel to it. So the atmosphere here is all about Japan pre-war- A Great way to explore Asakusa by foot is this Asakusa Tour which leads you through all the right places and helps you make the most of a short Trip. Things to Do In AsakusaGeisha - Kannonura Street is one of the few streets in Tokyo where you can still see Geisha in Kimonos and traditional white make-up. Geishas are traditional entertainers. If you’d like to see the Geishas perform the Japanese dance, singing and music they were trained for, the tea-houses in Asakusa still have 45 actively working geisha (In Kyoto Geishas are more common). An evening like that costs around 20,000 yen per customer. In any case the Geisha area has a lovely traditional Japanese feel to it, so take a walk down Kannonura Street. Kaminari-mon Gate - You will recognize it by the large red lantern. Kaminarimon is the first of two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple. It was first built more than 1000 years ago. The original gate was destroyed in the air raids of 1945, so this is a reconstruction built in 1960. The Tourist Information Centre (opposite Kaminarimon gate) with lots of maps and info. Opening hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm daily. The fortune telling stand (right in front of the shrine). The custom is to tie a fortune paper to a wooden stand, which will apparently blow away the bad luck. Sensoji Temple dates back to 645, but with the original destroyed in the air raids 1945, today's building is a reconstruction. At the top of the steps its a ritual to clap your hands twice and bow your head. It's also a custom to make a gift to the gods by throwing coins into the wooden box. Asakusa Shrine is the only temple that survived the II world war bombings. The shrine's festival, the Sanja Matsuri is the largest and most popular in Tokyo. Hanzomon Gate marks the end of the street. See More: Sanja Matsuri and other Tokyo FestivalsAsakusa ShoppingNakamise Street - A pedestrian street leading to Senso-ji Temple from the Kaminari-mon gate. The street is lined with souvenir shops and traditional Japanese food stalls. A great place to stock up on souvenirs for your friends and family. Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street is a shopping arcade lined with shops and restaurants. Lots of shops here sell restaurant products, so its a good opportunity to stock up on Japanese cups and plates before going home. Kappabashi Shopping Street has domestic kitchenware stores. Here you can buy the plastic models of traditional Japanese foods that Tokyo restaurants put in their windows. Asakusa Recommended RestaurantsChinya - (left of Kaminarimon Gate) An old establishment from 1880 in a new building, serving excellent sukiyaki, shabu-shabu and set lunches or dinners. English-language menu is available. A good choice. Jidaiya - (On Misuji Dori) You'll have to bend to enter through the Edo-style front door and you'll feel transported to Ancient Japan. The English-language menu offers kaiseki, tempura, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, tempura and nabe. They accept credit cards. Mugitoro - (2-2-4 Kaminarimon st, From Sensoji Temple walk to Komagata-bashi Bridge. Mugitoro is beside the bridge on Edo Dori st., next to a tiny temple). This restaurant specializes in tororo-imo (yam) kaiseki which are included in almost all the dishes. The lunch buffet offered until 1pm, includes fish or beef, yam in some form, vegetable, Miso soup and rice and costs only ¥1,000. Asakusa Hotels
Because of its central location, old-times Japanese atmosphere and large selection of affordable restaurants, Asakusa is a popular area for budget travelers.Hotel Sunroute AsakusaA Japanese business hotel with free Internet in the lobby and a Great location (5 min to subway station). Easy to reach Ginza, Shibuya, Ueno and all other central districts in Tokyo.Walking distance to the temple, nakamise Dori & all other attractions. Rooms are very clean. Front desk service is excellent, very helpful and eager to please. Rates and Reviews:
Hotel Sunroute
Smile HotelFrom 100$ per NightNothing fancy, but a very good value for the money. The area is close to the main Attractions. Good location if you want to explore Asakusa. The room is clean, and comfortable. The staff at the front desk speak varying degrees of English. The hotel is about 10 minutes walk to the nearest Subway station. There's an on site laundry room for a decent price. Rates and Reviews:
Smile Hotel
Asakusa View HotelA decent 4 star hotel with a bonus - fantastic views of Tokyo skyline and Mt Fuji In the early morning.If you’re staying on the west side you may get a room with a view of the Sumida River and the Tokyo Sky tree. The hotel is just a few minutes walk from the Ginza line, which allows you to explore Ueno, Ginza, Omotesando, Harajuku and Shibuya. The local sites of the temple and markets are nearby too. Clean and comfortable rooms with a good breakfast. The room has a free internet LAN access. The bar has a stunning view of the city too. Rates and Reviews:
Asakusa View Hotel
Subways
Sumida River Cruise sightseeing ships operate every 30 to 60 minutes from the wharf - only five minute walk from the temple. See Also: Tokyo Subway and Subway Map Continue Reading: A great Asakusa Tour that takes you through all the right spots in Asakusa Return from Asakusa to More Exciting Tokyo Things to do Best time to arrive in Tokyo Brief history of Japan Return from Asakusa to Tokyo Attractions Privacy | Disclosure | Contact | Link Exchange © 2008 - 2012 Caution: Tokyo-Top-Guide.com will report copyright violators to Google. Websites that take images or imitate content can lose their Google Adsense and/or publishing privileges.
|
What Are You Looking For?
Tokyo Events & Deals Monthly, our FREE Tokyo City Newsletter
Everything you need to start planning, Booking ahead and arranging your itinerary in advance!Subscribers to our Monthly newsletter get a FREE Tokyo Travel ebook.