Tokyo Swan 16: Asakusa

Asakusa is one of the more traditionally cultural areas of Tokyo. Full of shrines and towering pagodas, it is clearly an area of Tokyo that all visitors should travel to at least once. Leading up to one of the main temples in the area, there are just so many different stalls and shops full of traditional goods and food. If one is looking for a good gift to get someone back home, Asakusa is always a good bet because there are so many unique Japanese items to buy there.

In the past, Asakusa was a hot spot for geisha, both of the legitimate and somewhat seedy kind, but today it’s a pretty popular spot for tourists and locals alike. I really liked some of the giant statues they had near the shrines, and as you can see in the video it’s a very beautiful location.

Over the course of my year in Tokyo, I visited Asakusa a number of times with my friends, because it is one of the areas of Tokyo that really makes you feel like you have stepped back into time, but it’s just a quick train ride away from central Tokyo. I’m looking forward to when I’ll be able to walk amongst the temples again!