Asakusa is located in Tokyo and is famous for various destinations such as the Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street. Many might choose to explore the Asakusa area by foot … and this will almost certainly be accompanied by hunger! There are numerous walk-and-eat foods, as well as restaurants, available in Asakusa; here are 15 of the best shops that you have to visit:
1. What is the 1-rice sushi? Sushiya no Hachi
Sushiya no Hachi is a sushi restaurant that was opened in 1972. The high-quality sushi there has been satisfying the taste buds of locals and tourists for a long period of time. Around 40 to 50 varieties of sushi can be enjoyed at Sushiya no Hachi, ranging from high-quality seafood to simple ingredients such as egg rolls. However, what makes this sushi restaurant stand out from all other sushi restaurants in Japan is the 1-rice sushi.
As seen from the photo, the sushi on the right are extremely small - they are made from only one grain of rice! High technical ability is required to make this sushi, and this shows how skilful the cooks in Sushiya no Hachi are!
すし屋の野八 Sushiya no Hachi
Address: 111-0034 Tokyo, Taito, Kaminarimon, 1 Chome-3-6
Access info: 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 17:00 - 2:00 (last order 1:30)
Fixed holiday: Sundays and holidays
Contact: +81 3-3841-3841
2. Asakusa Angelus: birthplace of Dutch coffee in Japan
Photo is only for illustrative purposes
Asakusa Angelus is located near Sensoji Temple and is one of the most popular cafés around the area. The vintage café was opened in 1946 and has been visited by many celebrities. It is also the place that spread Dutch coffee, a type of coffee made from room-temperature water instead of hot water, throughout Japan.
Among the various coffee available in Asakusa Angelus is the ume Dutch coffee, where Dutch coffee is served together with sour plum. The fragrance of the coffee is accentuated by the sour plum, making it a fantastic experience to drink. You can also try out the roll cake “Angelus” there, which has buttercream coated in either milk chocolate or white chocolate.
浅草アンヂェラス Asakusa Angelus
Address: 111-0032 Tokyo, Taito ward, Asakusa, 1-17-6
Access info: 3-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station exit 1
Opening hours: 11:00 - 21:00 (last order 20:40)
Fixed holiday: Monday
Contact: +81 3-3841-9761
3. Marugoto Nippon: enjoy all of Japan!
Marugoto Nippon is a shopping mall located in Asakusa where you can enjoy marugoto (all) of Japan. The 4-storey building has 50 stores including various shops and restaurants.
The fourth storey of Marugoto Nippon is home to restaurants where numerous Japanese cuisines can be enjoyed. The stores there include a buffet-style restaurant, Charlie’s Vegetable Tokyo, the Japanese restaurant called Hatabata, and more!
まるごとにっぽん Marugoto Nippon
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to,Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 2 Chome-6-7
Access info: 1-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: please refer to official website
Fixed holiday: please refer to official website
Contact: +81 3-3845-0510
4. Tsuboichi: unique matcha sweets
Tsuboichi is also located in the Marugoto Nippon building and is a Japanese sweet shop. The main branch of Tsuboichi is in Osaka.
At Tsuboichi, you can have delicious matcha green tea together with an interesting sweet called puruboron, a matcha cookie. Apart from that, traditional Japanese sweets like shiratama dango (Japanese rice dumpling) and red beans can be enjoyed too.
The unique puruboron, as well as a wide variety of Chinese teas, green teas, and herb teas, can be purchased as souvenirs.
茶寮つぼ市製茶本舗 浅草店 Tsuboichi Asakusa Branch
Address: 2nd Floor of Marugoto Nippon (111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 2 Chome-6-7)
Access info: 1-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 20:00 (last order 19:30)
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-3841-0155
5. Biggest strawberry daifuku you’ll ever see: Kanesue
Kanesue Asakusa Branch is located at the 1st storey of Marugoto Nippon and the sight of a long queue there is the norm; sometimes, the queue is so long that it even extends out of the building!
Kanesue is a sweet shop from Kagawa Prefecture that is most known for its huge strawberry daifuku (Japanese rice cake with fillings). The delightful strawberries create a marvellous harmony of sweetness with the daifuku skin and red bean paste inside it!
かねすえ Kanesue Asakusa Branch
Address: 1st Floor of Marugoto Nippon (111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 2 Chome-6-7)
Access info: 1-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 20:00
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-3847-7110
6. Custard Lab Tokyo’s unique Danish cream puff
Custard Lab Tokyo is a choux cream (cream puff) store in the commercial building ROX, and is a shop whose popularity is rising rapidly.
The most famous choux cream there is one called the “Tokyo chouzak”, a choux cream combined with Danish pastry. The cute-looking caramel-flavoured Danish together with the soft choux cream is extremely delightful.
カスタードラボ トウキョウ Custard Lab Tokyo
Address: ROX・3G, 1 Chome-25-15 Asakusa, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to 111-0032
Access info: 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 21:30
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-6802-8012
7. Potatoes can become sweets!? Oimoyasan Koushin
There are 13 branches of Oimoyasan Koushin in Tokyo, with 5 in the Asakusa area. It is a shop that specialises in selling candied sweet potatoes. Various types of potatoes are available at Oimoyasan Koushin according to the seasons, and the brand called “miyabi” is one that can be enjoyed all year round. The well-fried potatoes are coated with honey, yet have a toned-down sweetness. It is an extremely popular store among girls!
おいもやさん 興信 Oimoyasan Koushin
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 1 Chome-39
Access info: 7-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 19:00
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-5828-8530
8. Richest matcha gelato in the world: Suzukien
Suzukien is a shop that is known for having the “richest matcha (green tea) gelato in the world”. The Suzukien Asakusa Main Branch was opened recently in January 2016 and is a shop that sells various gelatos. Apart from the usual flavours, such as milk, chocolate, and black sesame, there are 7 different types of matcha levels available from Number 1 to Number 7. Number 7 is the matcha ice cream that has the richest flavour.
When you order the double scoop, you will get to choose 2 different types of flavours, so it is recommended that you try out 2 different types of matcha flavours for comparison!
壽々喜園 Suzukien
Address: 111-0041 Tokyo, Taito, Motoasakusa, 3 Chome-4-3
Access info: 6-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Fixed holiday: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month
Contact: +81 3-3873-0311
9. The common but addictive breads from Manufacture
Manufacture is a bakery that was opened in 2015, and various types of bread, such as croissants, baguettes, and bagels are available there. It is located at the 3rd storey of the building and is in a rather inconspicuous location. However, Manufacture is constantly filled with people and that attests to the fantastic taste of their breads. Manufacture also has an eat-in space where you can enjoy the breads and sandwiches purchased there.
製造 Manufacture
Address: 111-0033 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Hanakawado, 1 Chome-1-11-1, Ayumi Buliding 3F
Access info: 3-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00
Fixed holiday: Monday
Contact: +81 3-5830-3377
10. Kagetudo: 15-centimetre (5.9-inch) melon bread!
Kagetudo is a bakery with over 90 years of history and the brand is associated with its melon bread that was first sold around 15 years ago. It is most famous for the jumbo melon bread that has a huge size - its diameter is about 15 centimetres (5.9 inches)! Despite the huge size, it is evenly baked and the crispy bread is unusually soft inside. There are 3 stores of Kagetudo in the Asakusa region and this is the perfect eat-and-walk food! It is not recommended for you to carry the melon bread in your bag, though, as that will cause it to be crushed.
花月堂 Kagetudo
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to,Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 2 Chome-2
Access info: 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: Opens at 9:00, until melon bread sells out
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-3847-5251
11. Daigaku Imo Chibaya: get your best potato sweets here!
Daigaku Imo Chibaya is a shop that specialises in potatoes and has a history of over 60 years. There are only 3 varieties on the menu: the daigaku imo (candied potato), steamed potato, and fried potato.
The fresh and warm potatoes are crispy on the outside, while the inside is well-flavoured with honey.
大学いも 千葉屋 Daigaku Imo Chibaya
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 3 Chome-9-10
Access info: 12-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:30
Fixed holiday: Tuesday
Contact: +81 3-3872-2302
Official URL: nil
12. Ganso Kimuraya Ningyoyaki: cute sweets shaped like lanterns!
The ningyoyaki is one of the popular souvenirs in Asakusa. It is a Japanese sweet with red bean paste inside fried castella. Ganso Kimuraya Ningyouyaki is amongst the famous stores where you can purchase the ningyoyaki, which comes in 4 different designs: Pigeon, 5-Storey Pagoda, Japanese Lantern and Raijin (god of lightning and thunder).
There is also a similar shop nearby called the Ganso Ningyoyaki Kimuraya Main Branch. Both stores specialise in selling ningyoyaki and have an extremely long history. Why not purchase from both brands and compare their taste?
元祖木村屋人形焼 本店 Ganso Kimuraya Ningyoyaki Main Branch
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 2 Chome-3-1
Access info: 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 9:30 - 18:30
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-3844-9754
13. Asakusa Kibidango Azuma’s traditional Japanese sweet
The Asakusa Kibidango Azuma is a shop that sells the traditional kibidango, a type of dango (Japanese rice dumpling) that originated in the 19th century in Okayama Prefecture. The kibidango are served on a stick and are priced reasonably at 300 JPY (2.80 USD) for 5 sticks. The soft kibidango are coated with kinako (toasted soybean powder) and are sweet and soft. During summer, Asakusa Kibidango Azuma also serves iced matcha while amazake (Japanese sake) is sold in the winter.
浅草きびだんご あづま Asakusa Kibidango Azuma
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 1 Chome-18-12
Access info: 3-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 9:00 - 19:00
Fixed holiday: nil
Contact: +81 3-3843-0190
14. The wide variety of tempuras from Tempura Daikokuya
Tempura Daikokuya was opened in 1887 and is one of the most-famous tempura (Japanese fried dish) stores in Asakusa. There are various tempuras available at Tempura Daikokuya, including shrimp tempura, vegetable tempura, mushroom tempura, and more. They are available in both donburi-style (Japanese rice bowl dish), as well as separate set menus.
Tempura Daikokuya opens at around 11 am, but it is a common sight to see a queue developing way before its opening hours, so it is recommended that you visit the store early if you want to avoid queueing!
大黒家天麩羅 Tempura Daikokuya
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 1 Chome-38-10
Access info: 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: Weekdays and Sunday: 11:10 - 20:30 Saturday and holidays: 11:30 - 21:00
Fixed holiday: please refer to official website
Contact: +81 3-3844-1111
15. Iriyama Senbei: classic Japanese rice cracker
Iriyama Senbei is a stall that was opened in 1914 and only sells one dish: the Iriyama senbei. A senbei refers to a Japanese rice cracker, and the Iriyama senbei is a simple, classic senbei with only soy sauce as flavouring. Despite the simple appearance and taste, the crunchy senbei is extremely addictive and it is unbelievable how such a delicious cracker can be made from merely toasting.
入山煎餅 Iriyama Senbei
Address: 111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 1 Chome-13-4
Access info: 7-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00
Fixed holiday: Thursday
Contact: +81 3-3844-1376
Book the Asakusa Cultural & Street-food Walking Tour (76 USD)
When there are just too many good food destinations in Asakusa, you need to consider booking a tour instead. Why not get an all-inclusive street food walking tour and go to places recommended by locals themselves? Indulge in local flavors that not a lot of tourists know about. First, enjoy a rickshaw ride and sample street foods as you explore Nakamise street. You’ll then be guided to Kappabashi, a long street where you’ll also find a lot of Japanese kitchen tools and goods. And last but definitely least, treat yourself to a popular stall along Hoppy Street serving monjyayaki. Enjoy this hearty snack with the other members of your tour group as you learn about how to cook it from your guide. If you’re looking for a fulfilling gastronomic experience in Asakusa, make sure to book this best-selling Magical Trip tour!
Asakusa Cultural & Street-food Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Price: 76 USD
So many varieties to choose from!
From unique sushi stores to cafés and bakeries, Asakusa is filled with various types of food that will keep you satisfied. Make sure you visit these stores when exploring the area!
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