13 FUN Things to do in Asakusa, Tokyo (and Nearby!)

After staying in Asakusa twice on Tokyo trips (highly recommended 😜), I’ve fallen in love with the area—the striking Sensō-ji Temple, getting lost in the streets filled with izakayas and artisan shops, and gazing down at it all from above at my favorite viewpoint just across the river.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Asakusa, you’ve come to the right place! In this article I’m sharing a selection of must-see Asakusa attractions along with hidden gems, and a few nearby areas to add-on to your Tokyo itinerary, including a temple hidden within a lotus pond, and a lesser known neighborhood that perfectly embodies the charm of Old Tokyo.

👩🏽‍💻 Save for later: My guide on where to stay in Asakusa, including the budget-friendly ryokan we loved! And my optimized 3 day Tokyo itinerary of hidden gems and highlights!

☀️🌺🌿 Article Outline (Jump Ahead)

1. Sensō-ji Temple & Nakamise-dori

Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji Temple, is a must-see spot in Asakusa. And it absolutely lives up to the hype—both in daytime and after dark!

And while you’re here, another must-see spot is Nakamise-dori street, which is lined with 90 vendors—some over a hundred years old. What many folks don’t realize is that its actually the street that leads to Sensō-ji Temple, so its easy to visit both at once!

Sensō-ji is free to visit and open 24/7. Vendors along Nakamise-dori street are only open from 9 or 10am to about 6pm, so keep that in mind.

The street and temple tend to get really crowded throughout the day, especially when the vendors are open. We visited numerous times of day (including at night when the ambiance transforms!) and found it most enjoyable before 9am and after 7pm with fewer people—but of course, no vendors open. If you stay in Asakusa like we did (recommended!!) you’ll end up walking through several times on your trip.

📷 See Sensō-ji & Nakamise-dori from above: Head to the Asakusa Culture Tourist Center (9am-8pm daily) for a free view of the street and temple from above!

2. Rickshaw Ride

A rickshaw ride is a fun (and helpful) introduction to Asakusa, whether you’re staying in the area like we did, or trying to see Asakusa in a day (or less!)

If you aren’t familiar, rickshaws originated in Japan in the late 1800s. In Asakusa, a muscular rickshaw driver will pull you around the neighborhood while providing some historical context about everything you’re seeing.

The classic rickshaw tour of Asakusa usually includes sights like Sensō-ji Denboin Garden, Raccoon Street, Ushijima Shrine, Asakusa Shrine, Sumida Park, and more—but it’s easily customized based on your interests.

3. Asahi Sky Room

Just across the Sumida River from Asakusa, the Asahi Sky Room is one of my absolute favorite Tokyo hidden gems (click that link for more hidden gems!)

For the price of a pint of Asahi—one of Japan’s most iconic beers—you can sip said beer with while overlooking stunning Asakusa, Skytree Tower, and the Sumida River from above.

We visited Asahi Sky Room in the early evening and had to wait a few minutes for a seat, and the nighttime views were exceptional! Even in the dark, we could see Sensō-ji Temple, and the seemingly endless horizon of Tokyo skyscrapers.

4. Walk the Sumida River

Visiting the Asahi Sky Room is a good excuse to also walk along the Sumida River, which runs between Asakusa and Sumida City. There’s a path along the other side of the river where you can watch the boats roll by and examine the skyline from both sides!

One thing you won’t miss is the Asahi headquarters—marked by a giant golden structure many locals know as the golden turd. It’s supposed to be the foam on top of glass of beer!

5. Sumo Show

Asakusa is one of the best places in Tokyo to see a sumo show, with the award-winning Asakusa Sumo Club only a few blocks from Sensō-ji Temple.

Although I didn’t get the chance to see a sumo show myself, I can easily recommend it becuase of the 1,000+ 5 star reviews. Reviewers recommend making a reservation in advance, as the shows sell out. Your ticket includes a chicken hot pot dinner, and the sumo show itself, along with geisha dancing.

My husband walking along the streets of Asakusa, a great place to shop in Tokyo

6. Shop & Explore in Asakusa

Asakusa ended up being one of my favorite areas to shop in Tokyo—as someone who usually doesn’t do a lot of shopping while traveling!

The streets immediately around Sensō-ji are filled with the cutest local artisan shops—from artisan knife-makers and traditional Japanese clothing shops to art and pottery.

The shop we bought the most from was Suiren, a small shop with a variety of locally-made goodies, including t-shirts that my husband bought and wore nearly everyday for the rest of our Japan trip, plus some beautiful chopsticks, hand towels, and more!

In addition to the small artisanal shops, there are also bigger stores a short walk away, like Uniqlo and Don Quijote.

7. Try Hoppy

Another one of the best things to do in Asakusa is try Hoppy at Hoppy Street (Hoppy-dori), which runs along the west side of Sensō-ji Temple. Hoppy is a beer-like beverage with low alcohol content that was created in 1948 as an affordable alternative to beer.

The 80-meter long street is lined with retro izakayas serving Hoppy and appetizers. Keep in mind that most of these izakayas charge a small cover fee, which includes appetizers served alongside your drinks.

Of course, there are plenty of other izakayas and bars in Asakusa that serve actual beer—and we even saw some cute wine bars! But these Hoppy izakayas are a fun, unique cultural experience in Asakusa.

8. Matcha Experience

An even more important drink in Japan, matcha is an absolute must-try! And one of the best places to do it is at Matcha Experience in Asakusa, a lesser-known matcha cafe where you can prepare your own matcha while overlooking Sumida River!

Unlike most foodie experiences, this one is pretty lowkey and doesn’t need to be reserved in advance. Just show up and order a matcha and then enjoy whisking your ceremonial tea into hot water, just like its been done in all over Japan for centuries.

9. Thai Massage

Getting a Thai-style massage might not be on your Tokyo bucket-list, but hear me out! After days of walking 30,000 steps around Tokyo, a massage really sounded nice… and when we Googled ‘massage’ in Asakusa and an hour later were enjoying one of the best massages of our lives!

Rung Vipa Thai Massage & Spa is a traditional Thai massage studio with the most peaceful ambiance and Thai decor, and best of all, exceptional massages! The studio is located right in the heart of Asakusa, just a short walk from the temple.

We did the hour-long couples massage for ¥8,800 ($57) each and it was serene. The Thai ladies spoke a little English and were both funny and friendly. We were offered tea before the massage and gifted a little Thai elephant charm afterward!

10. SkyTree Tower

Now we’re moving into the things to do NEAR Asakusa, and the first one is seeing the skyline from the top of Tokyo’s highest building, Tokyo SkyTree!

The base of the tower is 15 minute walk or 2-minute train ride from Asakusa, so visiting both in the same day makes a lot of sense!

You can make reservations for SkyTree on Klook, which is highly recommended if you’re visiting at popular time like sunset or anytime during sakura (cherry blossom) season in the spring.

11. Yanaka

Perhaps our favorite neighborhood to explore in Tokyo, Yanaka is one of the best areas to experience the feel of Old Tokyo as most of its Edo-era buildings weren’t destroyed in WWII. Plus, a ‘little Kyoto’ shrine with rows of red torii gates reminiscent of Fushimi Inari, the cutest cat-themed retro shopping street, and endless little hidden gems like a coffeeshop in an old bathhouse!

I recommend carving out half a day to explore Yanaka—maybe half the day in Asakusa and the other half in Yanaka if you’re not staying in the area.

Rather than heading straight to Yanaka Ginza shopping street (Yanaka’s best known attraction), I recommend taking the 5-minute metro ride from Asakusa Station to Ueno Park (next on my list of things to do in Asakusa!) then walk through the park and continue you through Yanaka on foot.

12. Ueno Park

Just west of Asakusa, Ueno Park is another lovely place to visit near Asakusa! There’s a lot to do here, like visiting the National Museum of Nature and Science, the Ueno Zoo, and The National Museum of Western Art—but I was most intrigued by the tranquil shrines and temples hidden throughout the park.

Lotus pond in Tokyo's Ueno Park near Asakusa

Particularly, Shinobazu no Ike Bentendō, which is in the middle of a lotus pond, surrounded by thousands of verdant lotus plants!

As I mentioned before, Ueno Park is a short 5-minute train ride away from Asakusa.

13. Akihabara

Just south of Ueno Park is Akihabara, also called ‘Electric Town’. Basically the mecca of anime, manga, electronics and gaming culture, Akihabara is also home to a large collection of maid cafes—which of course are something you love or hate.

We stopped in Akihabara for about an hour on the search for vintage music equipment and an arcade but felt like the area let us down. While its a dream destination for anime lovers, Akihabara is certainly not for everyone! Either way, the neon billboard-adorned buildings had that nostalgic post-war Tokyo feel that you find here and Shinjuku—and it’s worth a visit if that’s something you’re looking for!