The Asakusa District of Tokyo is situated along the west bank of the Sumida-gawa River. The town has an old, traditional feel to it and visitors can take a 30-minute rickshaw ride to the local attractions, or it can be easily explored on foot.
Sensoji, a 7th century Buddhist Temple with a fascinating history is the main attraction of the area as is the Nakamise, a shopping street that leads to the temple, where pilgrims and visitors have been buying traditional snacks, sweets and souvenirs for centuries.
Asakusa also hosts many traditional events and festivals, the most popular of which is the fireworks display which is watched by over a million people every year.
Importance Rating: 10 - this is one of Tokyo's top areas.
Busyness Rating: 10 - it gets very busy around Senso-ji and Nakamise Street
Top Tips: Senso-ji Temple is great after dark actually when the crowds have gone. Morning time is also a good time - around 10 am, as the shops on Nakamise start to open.
Take some cash to pay for treats on Nakamise and be careful when taking photos, as some stalls don’t like it. When in doubt, ask if a photo is okay and you should be fine.