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Asakusa & | OSHIAGE | RYŌGOKU | KIYOSUMI & FUKAGAWA

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MATSUGAYA i # Yos Gate, and walking shop- 1 i me-dōri NISHI- # r lined Nakamise-dōri to ShutoKITA-UENO Ex Asakusa-3 ō 6 ASAKUSA -d o Mitsu kōen o N the great Sensō-ji (Sensō d y E w Asakus KAMINARIMON xp Temple; p 168 ), grabbing a-dōr 5# E HIGASHI- i t o u 2# age-manjū (bean bun) en UENO h S SUMIDA-KU KOTOBUKI route. Kasuga-d KOMAGATA Scaling the world’s ōri 2 tallest tower at Sky HIGASHI- KURAMAE KOMAGATA Tree (p 170) and seeing the capital at your feet. 3 Stepping back in time ASAKUSABASHI in Asakusa’s old-world crafts shops (see boxed Yokoami-kōen text, p178 ). (Yokoami Park) Kanda-g 4# awa 4 Heading ringside to R yogok eiyōdōri watch the big boys slap ubash K Brid i SUMIDA-KU each other silly in a sumō KODEMMACHŌ ge RYŌGOKU Shuto Expwy No 7 bout at Ryōgoku (p 170). 5 Sailing the Sumida- KIKUGAWA CHŪŌ-KU gawa (Sumida River) by Hamachō- i koen Park h Tokyo Cruise ferryboat Ōhas SHIN- (see boxed text, p73 ). Shin- ŌHASHI NIHOMBASHI Bridge S to Ki E yosu-b x p Br w id ashi SHIRAKAWA y g e N 6 o Su Kiyosumi-Teien m (Kiyosumi Gardens) Ōhas ida HIRANO hi ga Br wa- Metropolitan id E ge Kiba Park itaib KŌTŌ-KU ash awa Brid i Sendaiborig ge FUKUGAWA River (Sumida Rive Sumi KIBA CHŪŌ- Ei KU tai- d dō Yasuda a- ri g

a w 01km a e# r 00.5miles )

For more detail of this area, see Map p 302 A 167 Best Places Explore Asakusa & Sumida River 5 to Eat Asakusa (ah-saku-sah) is where the spirit of old  Asakusa Imahan (p 175 ) proudly lives, but it takes some old-fashioned footwork  Daikokuya (p 175 ) to get to know it. Replete with charming shops and res-  Otafuku (p175 ) taurants, the district is well suited for walking and can take up a leisurely half-day. The outlying sights across For reviews, see p 175 A RIVER & SUMIDA ASAKUSA and along the Sumida River, such as Ryōgoku, can take the rest of the day and into the evening. Begin your journey through the historic Shitamachi Best Places district at Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line. Follow the 6 to Drink signs to Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the magnifi cent  Popeye (p177 ) entrance to the Nakamise-dōri shopping arcade leading  Lucite Gallery (p177 ) to Sensō-ji (Sensō Temple). The temple itself and neigh-  Café Meursault (p177 ) bouring Asakusa-jinja () are surrounded by a web of old-world streets and shopping arcades. For reviews, see p 177 A After a meal at one of Asakusa’s traditional restau- rants, head back towards the Sumida River to catch a To- kyo Cruise ferry heading downstream to the Shimbashi Best area or , or head to Tōbu Asakusa Station and 1 Views cross the river on the Tōbu Isesaki Line to go to Tokyo  Tokyo Sky Tree (p 170 ) Sky Tree. The view from its observation decks is spec- Lucite Gallery (p177 ) tacular during winter months and sunsets.   Tokyo Cruise ferries (p 73 ) Local Life

 Snacking Asakusa brims with great bun and cracker shops, many of which make their goodies on site.  Spectacles Tokyoites fl ock to Asakusa for New Year’s temple visits, spring festivals and summer fi reworks.  Hanami Line the banks of the river in Asakusa-kōen park for hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) in April.

Getting There & Away A s a k u s a  Train The Tōbu Isesaki Line stops at Tōbu Asakusa and Tokyo Sky Tree. The stops at a diff erent Asakusa Station, west of Sensō-ji.  Subway The Ginza Line stops at Asakusa. The Asakusa Line also stops at a separate Asakusa Station south of Sensō-ji.  Boat Azuma-bashi is the northern terminus of Tokyo Cruise ferries. R y ōgoku & Sumida River  Train The JR Sōbu Line goes to Ryōgoku.  Subway The Ōedo Line connects the Ryōgoku, Kiyosumi and Fukagawa areas via Ryōgoku, Kiyosumi- Shirakawa and Monzen-Nakachō Stations. The Hanzōmon and Tōzai Lines also serve the last two stations, respectively.