◆A message from the artist, Sachiko HANASHIRO

"I had been teaching Etegami postcards in Asakusa for a long time, so I’ve visited this area so many times. When I visited Asakusa again for creating Fudetabi,  I remembered that the people I had met in Asakusa were very tender like they always welcomed me. I hope you enjoy the lively and warm ambiance of Asakusa."
 
 

Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. The legend says that two brothers scooped a statue of Kannon from the Sumida River in 628. In order to enshrine the statue, Sensoji Temple was built. There are lots of things to see, such as Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise and the Main Hall, and lots of things to experience, such as Jinrikisha, Omikuji and Omizuya.

［Sensoji Temple］
Address：2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032

Hours（Main hall）：6:00am to 5:00pm (from 6:30am /from October to March)

Access（By train）：5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line / Tobu Skytree Line / Tsukuba Express

Website（English）

Website（Japanese）

Kaminarimon Gate

©︎Sensoji Temple

Kaminarimon Gate is the main gate of the temple. The gate, with its giant red lantern, is one of the famous landmarks of Asakusa. On both sides of the gate, two god statues are enshrined as protectors of the temple. One is Fujin, the god of wind, and the other is Raijin, the god of lightning. On the other side of these statues, two more god statues, the god of water, are enshrined.

Jinrikisha（Rickshaw）

If you’d like to look around Asakusa with a professional guide, riding a Jinrikisha is a nice way to do it. The Jinrikisha’s driver will show you many attractions around Asakusa and take pictures of you, of course along with being a great guide. You can easily find many Jinrikisha’s drivers around Sensoji Temple.

There are some Jinrikisha’s services around Asakusa:

Ebisuya

Jidaiya

Nakamise

Nakamise is one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan. There are about 90 shops along the street, which is about 250-meters long from Kaminarimon Gate to Hozomon Gate. Soon after walking through Kaminarimon Gate, you’ll feel the atmosphere of this lively street.

 
 

Ningyoyaki

The Japanese traditional snack Ningyoyaki is a small sponge cake with sweet bean paste inside, and there are various shapes. The oldest Ningyoyaki store in Asakusa is Kimuraya Honten established in 1868. We recommend that you try freshly baked ones at Kimuraya Honten in Nakamise.

 

［Kimuraya Honten］

Address：2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

Hours：Around 9:00am〜6:00pm

Access：Walking to Hozomon Gate from Kaminarimon Gate. In front of Hozomon gate, you’ll find the shop.

Website

 
 

Omikuji（Fortune Slip）

Omikuji are predictions of your future. The way to draw out a Sensoji’s Omikuji is by firstly shaking a omikuji box which is full of wooden sticks and taking out a stick with some characters, then searching for the corresponding drawer and taking one omikuji slip.

 
 

Omizuya

The place where visitors can purify themselves with water is called Omizuya in Sensoji Temple. Before approaching the Main hall, people wash their hands, mouth and finally the handle of the water ladle. It is the way Japanese people worship.

  
 

A Scene from Sensouji Temple

There are a variety of buildings and statues in Sensoji Temple. Near Hozomon Gate, there is a Jizo statue which was placed to pray for peace in 1949. On the back of the statue, you can see Tokyo Skytree*, the world’s tallest tower at 634 meters, opened in 2012. It became one of the landmarks of Tokyo. The old and the new. The attractive scenery in Asakusa.

*The service (trade) mark “TOKYO SKYTREE” is used with a license from TOBU RAILWAY Co., LTD. and TOBU TOWER SKYTREE Co,. Ltd. in Japan.

 
 

Sukiyaki

The must-try cuisine in Asakusa is Sukiyaki, which is a dish of beef and vegetables prepared in a shallow iron pan. There are several Sukiyaki restaurants in the area. We highly recommend Asakusaimahan founded in 1895. At the restaurant, a server adds carefully-selected ingredients into the pan in front of you and prepares them for you to eat.
 

［Asakusaimahan］

Address：3-1-12, Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan. 111-0035

Hours：from 11:30am to 9:30pm (Last Order 8:30pm) Open 365 days

Access：Ginza Line Tawaramachi Station Exit 3 (5 minutes to walk)

Tobu Line Asakusa Station MATSUYA Exit (10 minutes to walk)

Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa Station Exit A4 (12 minutes to walk)

Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station Exit A2（0 minutes to walk)

Website（English）

Website（Japanese）

 
 

Find Your Favorite

It is fun to walk around Nakamise. Some stores sell variety goods, others sell Japanese traditional crafts. The figurines of cats, called Maneki-neko which are believed to bring happiness, and Japanese traditional masks are also sold in Nakamise. Various types of stores line the street, selling not only goods but also food.

 
 

Hozuki Ichi（Chinese Lantern Plant Market）

©︎Sensoji Temple

Hozuki Ichi is a famous event started in the Edo period. It is held at Sensoji Temple on the 9th and 10th of July every year. It is believed that if you visit and pray on one of these two days, you’ll receive 46,000 days' worth of blessings. About 100 stalls sell Chinese lantern plants, and it is crowded with worshipers from early morning to late at night.

［Details about Hozuki Ichi］

Date：July 9th and 10th

Hours：Around 8:00am〜9:00pm

 
 

Sumida River Fireworks Festival

In July, the fireworks festival is held near the Sumida River. It is a popular annual event in Tokyo which dates back to the Edo period. About 20,000 fireworks are launched from two different places. There are lots of food stalls, so you can enjoy watching the fireworks while eating Japanese local food.
 

［Details about Sumida River Fireworks Festival］

Date：It is usually scheduled to be held every year on the last Saturday of July.

Time：7:00pm〜8:30pm

 
 
Pleasant Experiences Around the Sumida River   

Taking a river cruise from the Sumida River is an interesting option to feel the atmosphere of Tokyo. You can also take a yakatabune which is a Japanese traditional boat with lanterns from the Sumida River. On the boat, you can have a meal and experience Japanese culture.
 

［Details about the river cruise］

Location：1-1-1 Hanakawado, Daitou-ku, Tokyo

Access：Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station (Approx. 1 min. walk)

Tobu Isesaki Line Asakusa Station (Approx. 1 min. walk)

Tokyo Subway Asakusa Station (Approx. 3 min. walk)

Website（English）

Website（Japanese）

 
There are several types of Yakatabune:

Tsurishin

Komagata

Amitatsu

Harumiya

 
 

Product Introduction

Fudetabi Asakusa

The things introduced in this article are drawn in. You’ll feel the lively atmosphere of Japanese downtown. 
Go to the product page of "Fudetabi Asakusa"

 

Fudetabi Kamakura

A lot of historical sites, such as temples and shrines, and beautiful nature scenes are drawn in “Fudetabi Kamakura”. It might make you feel relaxed.

Go to the product page of "Fudetabi Kamakura"
 

Fudetabi Nikko

In “Fudetabi Nikko”, not only famous temples but also the places are known to those in the know are drawn colorfully. 
Go to the product page of "Fudetabi Nikko"