Asakusa: Enjoy everything from craftsmanship to food culture! A tour of famous restaurants around the “Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki”
Asakusa is about 40 minutes away from "Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki" in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. This article introduces some of the best shops recommended for sightseeing in Asakusa! We will provide you with photos of Asakusa's typical attractions, such as the bunko selling traditional leather crafts and the Amezaiku experience at "Oozeki" and "Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin". Kimono rentals perfect for sightseeing in Asakusa and Asakusa's gourmet specialities such as tendon and Japanese sweets are also a must as well!
Outline
Enjoy everything from craftsmanship to food culture! A tour of famous restaurants around the “Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki”
Asakusa is one of Japan’s most famous sightseeing spots. There are plenty of things to see and do, with “Senso-ji Temple”, a temple with a history of approximately 1,400 years*, at the top of the list. The more you walk through the alleys, the more attractive the town becomes.
The journey from “Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki” in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, to Asakusa takes about 40 minutes. It is also a perfect location for those wishing to enjoy sightseeing in Tokyo.
This article introduces a course that allows you to enjoy various aspects of traditional Japanese culture while visiting famous shops! Don’t miss the kimono rentals to get you in the mood.
Access from Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki to Asakusa (journey time: approx. 40 minutes)
[JR Tokaido Line] Kawasaki Station – Shimbashi Station
[Toei Asakusa Line or Ginza Line] Shimbashi Station – Asakusa Station
See “Senso-ji” Temple Official Website for more information.
Japanese kimono is recommended for sightseeing in Asakusa! Asakusa Kimono Rental “Rikawafuku”, where you can wear kimono at a reasonable price and feel free to do so.
Asakusa Kimono Rental “Rikawafuku” is the place to go for a walk in kimono in the traditional downtown Asakusa area.
The shop is characterised by the fact that you can choose from all the kimonos lined up in the shop, regardless of the plan. There is a rich line-up of both ladies’ and men’s kimonos. You can spend a good amount of time wondering which one to choose!
There are many plans to choose from!
Dressing only: from 4,000 yen (tax included)
Hair set included: 6,000 yen (tax included)
For couples: from 10,000 yen (tax included)
There are many types of kimono to choose from!
At Asakusa Kimono Rental “Rikawafuku”, cute designs such as lace-patterned kimonos and chiffon belts are eye-catching. As you can wear a kimono without much fuss and with the feeling of wearing western clothes, it is also recommended for first-time kimono wearers.
Yukata is also recommended in summer!
There is also a full line-up of yukata.
It takes about one hour to choose a kimono, get dressed and have your hair set. you can leave the luggage at the store, so you can dress up like a different person before you go sightseeing!
Visit “Senso-ji temple”! Touch traditional leather crafts at “Oozeki”, a store found behind Nakamise street.
When you arrive in Asakusa, head for the “Kaminarimon”, the entrance to Asakusa. From this place, your visit to “Senso-ji Temple” has already begun. If you want to pay a formal visit, first bow here with your palms together.After a five-minute walk along the busy Nakamise Street, you will arrive at the main hall.
Arrived at the bunko store “Oozeki’!
After purifying your hands in the Omizuya, go to the main hall. After making a monetary donation, bow with your palms together, and then bow lightly again.
“Senso-ji temple” is known for its busy Nakamise Street. Found in an alleyway one street back is the bunko shop “Oozeki”, which will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its workshop in 2027 (*1) and is a brand that manufactures and sells products made from bunko leather, a traditional leather craft.
Bunko leather has its roots in Himeji leatherwork (*2), which has a history of about 1,000 years. It is made through a series of painstaking operations.
After stamping on pure white leather, the craftsman applies colour to the leather one brushstroke at a time by hand in the process of “Sai-Shiki”. Finally, the unique technique of “rusting” is used to add an aged look to the surface, which involves the use of Makomo, the powder of plant spores, in addition to lacquer.
*1: See Ozeki official website.
*2: See “Hyogo Prefecture Official Website”.
Products include a wide range of wallets and card cases!
There are more than 100 different patterns that the bunko shop Oozeki offers in its range of products! The photo shows “Kinsha”, one of the representative patterns designed by the founder and passed down through the generations.
The Sukisutoshi Card Case is priced at 13,970 yen (tax included) and the Gurutto Zipper Wallet at 25,520 yen (tax included). In addition, more than 20 other products are available in the same pattern, including pouches and seal cases. The colours are also unique in that there are basically four colours: green, blue, pink and purple, with a wide range of variations.
The Barrette is priced from 4,950yen (tax included). The colourful dahlias will add a touch of colour to your hairstyle.
Asakusa’s famous tendon at “Daikokuya Tempura”, a long-established restaurant founded in 1887.
For Asakusa’s famous tendon, go to “Daikokuya Tempura”. This long-established restaurant has consistently used a secret sauce since its establishment in 1887 * and continues to preserve its traditional taste.
The most popular menu item is the Ebi Tendon (prawn tempura rice bowl), priced at 2,400 yen (tax included). This is a gem of a dish with four prawns so large they overhang the bowl of rice. Deep-fried in sesame oil, the tempura is golden brown and fragrant, stimulating the appetite. The batter is soft and fluffy and very satisfying!
This restaurant is housed in a house in the downtown area and is popular at lunchtime. The signboard at the entrance saying ‘Tendon’ gives a sense of history and style.
* See ‘Daikokuya Tempura Official Website’.
Experience the Amezaiku crafts that brought the city of Edo to life! “Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin”
Amezaiku is a Japanese artisan craft that uses bare hands and grip scissors to create beautiful shapes. At “Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin”, you can experience this traditional technique under the guidance of a craftsman.
The course takes one and a half to two hours. After a lecture, you will make a ‘Rabbit Amezaiku’ with one practice session.
Complete A cute rabbit candy craft!
The experience was more difficult than I expected, but I successfully made it look like a rabbit! The finished product can be boxed for an extra 300 yen (tax included). The candy has a expiry date of an year, and for viewing it will last for about three years. The secret to enjoying them for a long time is to store them away from moisture.
From the second time onwards, visitors can try their hand at ‘dog’ and ‘cat’ amezaiku. Please try making Amezaiku that you can enjoy both eating and viewing.
The first tea with low bitterness is used! Specialty shop for Matcha sweets, “Kaminari-issa”
Matcha sweets are a must-try in Asakusa. Sweets made from high-quality “special Matcha” (thick tea) can be tasted at the four “Kaminari-issa” shops in Asakusa. The Asakusa main shop sells take-away items and also has an eat-in space where you can eat the sweets on the spot.
A popular menu item is the Matcha Ice Cream with cute panda decorations, 600 yen (tax included). It is sticky and has a strong tea taste, but has a refreshing aftertaste. A perfect dish for hot days!
Delicious hot shumai and steamed meat buns! “Sekine”, a popular restaurant established in 1921.
The retro signboard in red with a white background, the sales floor in the corner of the building, and a storefront that, once seen, is unforgettable. We visited “Sekine”, which was established in 1921* and sells shumai and steamed meat buns. It is a popular shop that has long been loved mainly by locals and is also recommended by hotel staff living in Taito Ward.
*Refer to “Sekine official website”.
Delicious “shumai” with succulent meat!
We were told that we could eat the items we purchased in front of the shop, so we ate them while they were still warm!
The 10-piece “shumai” (steamed pork dumplings), 620 yen (tax included), are minced roughly and the moment you bite into them, the juices start to seep out! The gentle, nostalgic taste is a welcome relief. Please visit this famous restaurant that will fill you up with a good feeling.
A panoramic view of the city from the observation terrace of the ‘Asakusa Culture and Tourism Centre’ at the end of the trip.
Lastly, “the Asakusa Culture and Tourism Centre” is located in front of the “Kaminarimon”. In addition to tourist information, there is also a foreign currency exchange office and a mobile Wi-Fi rental desk. The unique design by Kengo Kuma, one of Japan’s leading architects, is a sight to behold.
The Observation Terrace is highly recommended. Take the lift up to the 8th floor and you can enjoy a panoramic view of “Kaminarimon”, Nakamise street and “Senso-ji Temple”, and on a clear day you can clearly see the Sky Tree.
Be sure to stop by at the end of your trip!
Stay at “Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki” and enjoy sightseeing in Asakusa.
“Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki” is a recommended hotel for sightseeing in Asakusa and other parts of Tokyo. You can stroll through the elegant streets, experience traditional crafts and eat delicious food, and enjoy a moment of Japanese culture and suurondings.
Staying in a sophisticated room and eating a stylish breakfast buffet in the open kitchen will surely start a wonderful day. Whether you’re on a date, a girl’s trip or a family trip, make your trip a heart-pounding experience with “Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki”!
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