- Today is all about the Asakusa Area (Tokyo Skytree Edition), a town where you can experience Japan’s tradition and culture!
⛩️Asakusa
Asakusa is an area in Tokyo’s “shitamachi” (old downtown) where Japanese tradition and culture blend seamlessly. It is a famous area home to the Kaminarimon Gate with its monstrously large lantern, the solemn Senso-ji Temple where you can feel Japanese culture, and the Tokyo Skytree, which is seen in the distance and said to be the tallest tower in the world.
As one of Japan’s most famous tourist destinations, it is a “must-visit Tokyo sightseeing spot” that attracts visitors from all over the world. While Asakusa is a place name in the eastern part of Taito Ward within Tokyo’s 23 wards, it is common to sightsee the surrounding spots together. In this article, we introduce sightseeing spots around the Skytree.
- 🌲Enjoying the Symbol of the City: Tokyo Skytree
- 🎐Tokyo Solamachi
- 🪼Sumida Aquarium
- Learning Craftsmanship: Traditional Craft Experiences
- Hidden Gems Known to Insiders and Expert Ways to Enjoy
- 🥗Nearby Vegetarian Restaurants
- Creating Your Own Version of Tokyo
- Extra Information for International Travelers (Additional Content)
- ☕️ Thank you for reading to the end!
🌲Enjoying the Symbol of the City: Tokyo Skytree
The most significant feature of Tokyo Skytree is its height, 634 meters above ground. This number is based on “Musashi,” the old provincial name for the area encompassing Tokyo and Saitama. This is what we call “Goroawase,” a unique part of Japanese culture where numbers are associated with specific words because the sounds of the words are the same. First, let’s refresh your mind starting from the iconic spots of this area.
🔭Observatories (Tembo Deck / Tembo Galleria)
👉Make your reservation via GetYourGuide through this link.
Tokyo Skytree has two observation areas, the Tembo Deck and the Tembo Galleria, which can be reached by a paid elevator. The overwhelming 360-degree panorama from high above the ground allows you to realize the vastness of Tokyo.
Tembo Deck
The Tembo Deck is a massive observatory located 350 meters above ground, shown in the lower part of photos. Large glass panels are arranged all around, allowing you to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view. Let’s look down upon Tokyo all the way to the horizon from the world’s tallest tower!
Tembo Galleria
The Tembo Galleria is an observatory located at 450 meters above ground, about 100 meters higher than the Tembo Deck. This area features a tube-shaped glass corridor, offering an experience that feels like taking a walk in the sky over Tokyo.
Tickets can be purchased on the official website or on-site, but if it is crowded, on-site ticket sales may be sold out. Additionally, you can purchase “set tickets” at a discount that include the “Sumida Aquarium” and various events mentioned in this article. Advance tickets are cheaper, so it is recommended to book early once your travel plan is decided!
You can purchase tickets from the official website mentioned above.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
Try visiting during the sunset, the “Magic Hour,” when the color of the sky changes every moment. Experience the beauty of the modern metropolis, Tokyo, from above the sky!
🎐Tokyo Solamachi
Located at the foot of the Skytree, this is a massive complex with over 300 shops. It brings together shops that fuse traditional Tokyo culture with modern Tokyo, and souvenirs that will become memorable Tokyo specialties. Furthermore, the restaurants represent a fusion of diverse cultures, ranging from Japanese food such as Soba, Matcha, and Okonomiyaki to shops that carry beers from all over the world.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
There is also a planetarium on the 7th floor, making it a popular area for dates in Tokyo. You can enjoy shopping for Japanese-style souvenirs, limited-edition sweets, and stylish Japanese sundries. It is wonderful to find a “reward gift” for yourself for all your hard work.
🪼Sumida Aquarium
👉Make your reservation via GetYourGuide through this link.
This is an urban oasis located inside Solamachi, especially famous for its jellyfish exhibit. Watching jellyfish floating weightlessly in the water makes time flow slowly and brings healing. In addition, there are penguins flying freely through the water and a Japanese-style area centered around goldfish.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
Why not spend some meditative time gazing at the jellyfish swaying in a mirror-walled space? You can gain a sense of your mind quieting down, away from the busy daily life.
Learning Craftsmanship: Traditional Craft Experiences
The area around Asakusa has been a town of “monozukuri” (craftsmanship) since the Edo period. Just looking is not enough; experiences where you touch with your own hands become the greatest treasures of your journey.
🥂Edo Kiriko (Cut Glass) Experience
👉Make your reservation via GetYourGuide through this link.
In a workshop near the Skytree, you can challenge yourself to make Edo Kiriko, Japan’s beautiful cut glass. Edo Kiriko is a traditional Japanese glass engraving craft with a history of over 180 years. Learn with an instructor and take home an original glass you made yourself. Placing it in a sunny spot as interior decor reflects beautiful shadows, but using it daily is also recommended. By using it in your daily life, you can remember your trip, and because it is a one-of-a-kind glass you created yourself, it is recommended to make it your own favorite personal glass.
🍣Food Sample Manufacturing Experience
👉Make your reservation via GetYourGuide through this link.
In the Kappabashi Dougu Street and Asakusa area, you can experience making food samples that look just like the real thing. In Japan, you often see food samples in restaurant display menus, but there are probably few people who have made them themselves. Food samples made by professionals become excellent interior pieces that are indistinguishable from the real thing. While it is difficult to make them exactly like a pro, how about making a cute, miniature-sized version of your favorite snack for your room’s interior? It will surely be a great memory!
🍵Matcha Experience and Mochi Sweets in Asakusa
👉Make your reservation via GetYourGuide through this link.
Enjoy Matcha in a truly Japanese way amidst the traditional atmosphere of Asakusa! When thinking of Japanese culture, many people likely imagine Matcha. You can not only taste the deep flavor, which is different from green tea, but also experience it.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
While making Matcha together, you can learn the “quiet heart” of Japan and experience melting into traditional Japanese culture.
Hidden Gems Known to Insiders and Expert Ways to Enjoy
These are spots where you can step slightly away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy a stroll at your own pace.
🔪Rediscovering Tokyo’s Technology! “Kappabashi Dougu Street”
This is a shopping street stretching about 800 meters, lined with specialty shops for cooking utensils frequented by professional chefs. When written in Kanji, it uses the characters for “raincoat” (合羽), but there are various theories about its origin. One theory suggests it was named Kappabashi because “Kappa” (mythical water imps) helped with the bridge construction night after night. It is said that spotting a Kappa brings good fortune for business, so you are lucky if you see one! ✨
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
“Tools” that support Japanese food culture, such as high-quality chopsticks and tableware, will enrich your daily life after you return home.
🌲Skytree at its Most Beautiful: “Jikkenbashi Bridge”
Source:ぷるお
This is a scenic photo spot known to those in the know, where camera enthusiasts gather.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
Aim for the “Upside-down Tree” (Sakasa Tree), where the Skytree is perfectly reflected on the water’s surface. In this quiet place, you can enjoy viewing and photography to your heart’s content.
⛩️Urban Serenity to Calm Your Mind: “Ushijima Shrine”
A shrine with a calm atmosphere adjacent to Sumida Park.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
It is famous for the “Nade-ushi” (stroking cow) statue; it is said that if you stroke the part of the statue that corresponds to an ailment in your own body, it will get better. Experience the quiet flow of time right next to the Skytree.
[Hidden Gem] Senso-ji at Night: Silence and Mystical Illumination
As if the daytime hustle and bustle were a lie, Senso-ji Temple at night is wrapped in a quiet and mystical atmosphere.
✨ Personal Recommendation ✨
The main hall and the five-story pagoda are illuminated every day until 11 PM. Since there are few people, you can slowly appreciate the beauty of the architecture, and it is the best time for photography. Experience the calm “Japanese Night” which is completely different from the daytime. Above all, Japan is a very safe country to walk in at night. Please enjoy the mystical “Beauty of Japan” at night with peace of mind.
🥗Nearby Vegetarian Restaurants
⚠️Note: The author is not a vegetarian.While accuracy is prioritized, we cannot take responsibility for the content of the information provided. Please be sure to re-verify the information yourself using the article as a reference.
SASAYA CAFE
At SASAYA CAFE, our philosophy is simple: “Enjoy Your Veggies!” We strive to create a space where people of all ages, genders, and nationalities can gather around the same table and share a smile over delicious food and sweets.
- No Language Barrier:Our friendly staff speaks English, and we provide a full English menu for your convenience.
- Inclusive Dining: We offer a variety of Vegan and Vegetarian options, ensuring everyone finds something they love.
- Wholesome & Flavorful: From satisfying main dishes to handcrafted treats, our menu is designed to be both healthy and hearty.
WANI cafe
A Special Veggie Café Open Only on Mondays
Located near Tokyo Skytree in Sumida City, “Hachuruikan Bunkan” is a unique shared café space housed in a renovated building over 90 years old.
• English-speaking staff available
• Vegetarian menu items
• Vegan options available upon request
Creating Your Own Version of Tokyo
Asakusa and Skytree. In this area where tradition and modernity intersect, find your own special story. Forget the busy daily life and take a weekend trip to “update” yourself. Next, I look forward to seeing what kind of inspiration you will receive in this city.
Extra Information for International Travelers (Additional Content)
Transportation and Access
IC cards (Suica / PASMO) are essential. Walking across the “Sumida River Walk” from Asakusa to the Skytree is the best sightseeing route.
Cash and Payment
Old shops in Asakusa and Kappabashi may be “Cash Only.” Always have 1,000-yen notes and coins ready.
Safety and Etiquette
Japan has exceptionally high safety at night, and it is common for women to walk alone. Enjoy sightseeing with peace of mind. However, please eat in front of the shop where you purchased your food. Taking your trash home and smoking only in designated areas is the Japanese etiquette.
☕️ Thank you for reading to the end!
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