If you only have time for one neighborhood in Tokyo make it Asakusa. It is the city’s old downtown — settled by merchants in 1603 — and it feels completely different from the neon and skyscrapers that define modern Tokyo. Here history is everywhere and the pace is slower and the food is incredible.
We took the subway north and stepped out to one of the most iconic sights in all of Japan.
The Kaminarimon Gate — meaning the Gate of the Thunder God — is the dramatic entrance to the Asakusa district and one of the most photographed spots in Tokyo. Walking through it and into Nakamise-dori, the long shopping street that leads to the temple, is genuinely magical.
We bought fresh red bean filled cookies made right in front of us and served hot off the press. If you see them — stop. Buy them. You will thank us.
Outside the temple we paid 100 yen to shake a stick out of a container. The stick had a Japanese symbol on it and we had to find the corresponding drawer to reveal our fortune.
We got Bad Fortune No. 70.
We will just leave the full text here for you to enjoy:
“Thunderbolt occurs at the grass in the garden, which means that lower people under you give you damage and hurt you. Fire flies up to the sky means upper and lower people don’t get along, making you struggle to each other. Although you really hope to get fortune with earnest desire and working hard trying to get it, but the entrance is closed and you have nothing to do with it. Your request will not be granted. The patient is hard to recover. The lost article will not be found. The person you wait for will not come over. Building a new house and removal are no good. Marriage of any kind, to start a trip and hire new employee are all bad.”
All Adam and I could say to each other was hmmmmm………….
📋 Quick Asakusa Guide:
Kaminarimon Gate — Free. The iconic Thunder Gate entrance to Asakusa. Get here early for the best photos.
Nakamise-dori Shopping Street — Free to browse. Traditional souvenirs, street food and the best people watching in Tokyo. Don’t miss the fresh red bean cookies.
Senso-ji Temple — Free entry. Tokyo’s oldest and most visited temple. The ceiling inside is breathtaking.
Fortune Sticks (Omikuji) — 100 yen. Shake a stick, find your drawer, read your fate. Results may vary. Ours were not great.
Five Story Pagoda — Free to view. A beautiful replica built after World War II standing tall on the temple grounds.
Side Streets — Free. Walk a few blocks in any direction and you will find incredible local shopping, food and atmosphere.
Q: Is Asakusa worth visiting in Tokyo? A: It is one of the absolute must sees in Tokyo — especially if you want to experience the older more traditional side of the city away from the modern bustle.
Q: How do you get to Asakusa from central Tokyo? A: Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Asakusa Line directly to Asakusa Station. Easy, cheap and about 20-30 minutes from most central areas.
Q: What is the Senso-ji Temple fortune telling? A: Called Omikuji, it costs 100 yen. You shake a container of sticks until one falls out, find the matching numbered drawer and receive your fortune. They range from great blessing to — as we discovered — very bad fortune. If you get a bad one you can tie it to a designated rack at the temple to leave the bad luck behind!
Q: What food should you try in Asakusa? A: The fresh red bean filled cookies made to order on Nakamise-dori are unmissable. Also look for ningyo-yaki — small sponge cakes filled with sweet red bean paste — and melonpan fresh from the oven.
Q: Is Asakusa good to visit with kids? A: Absolutely! The giant gate, the street food, the fortune sticks and the open temple grounds make it one of the most engaging and entertaining areas in Tokyo for families.
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