The typical tourist spot in Japan, “Asakusa” is a place where you can feel the traditional Edo style (shitamachi) and see many interesting things.

We will start with Kaminarimon, go around Nakamise Street, visit Asakusa shrine, and lastly go to Kappabashi Street. We will introduce the interesting Asakusa walking course.

Your trip will start from the Kaminarimon. This Kaminarimon is the front gate to any tourist not only from Japan but from abroad too.

You won’t miss the huge lantern that weighs 500kg.

This is indeed the front door of Asakusa

The lantern was donated from Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Denki, or Panasonic.

There is the real name of the lantern “Fu-jin Rai-jin”(God of wind God of lightning) on the back of it.

After passing through the Kaminarimon, there follows the Nakamise Street. This is the most traditional shopping district that is said to date back to the Edo period. There are shops of traditional Japanese objects and sweets.

There are many tourists all year round in Nakamise Street.

This is a shop that sells Maneki Neko, a cat display that is believed to bring customers or good luck.

A wind-bell that signifies summer was sold.

A must souvenir when you visit Asakusa is Ningyo Yaki. At the originator of Ningyo Yaki, Bairindou, sells 10 for 200 yen. You can eat them while walking or take it home.

They are making it in front of you so you can buy one that is just baked.

As you follow the Nakamise Street to Asakusa Shrine, on the way you will see Denbouin Street on your left. This street is a street that replicates Edo’s Shitamachi Street. Along the street, there are shops that sell many traditional industrial art objects. Since there are Edo-like picture drawn on the shutter, you can feel the Edo’s atmosphere by walking this street.

The shops that will make you feel the traditional Edo in Denbouin Street is “Yonoya Kushi Shop” (a comb store) and “Edo Kiriko Ojima”(a facet store) . “Yonoya Kushi Shop” is a long established store of comb and kanzashi, a traditional hair ornaments. Each one of them are hand made even up to today.

“Edo Kiriko Ojima” is a store specialized in facet with motif of chrysanthemum and general merchandise used back in the Edo period. Kiriko or glass cutting is a technique of cutting many patterns on the surface of a glass that was introduced from the west.

Edo Kiriko Ojima

And “Star’s space” is located in front of the Asakusa public hall facing the Denbouin Street. Taitou ward praised the entertainer that has contributed to the mass entertainment and they put handprints and signatures of those talents here to pass down their achievements.

The famous Takeshi Kitano’s signature.

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Sightseeing spot “Asakusa” walking guide Part2
Kappabashi Street