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Asakusa Souvenir Shopping Guide: 5 Recommended Shops
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Asakusa is Tokyo's historical district and one of the most popular sightseeing locations in the city. This article introduces five Asakusa stores that are ideal for souvenir shopping. We'll also mention some of the recommended items that you can find at each shop.
The Best Places to Buy Asakusa Souvenirs
Photo by Pixta
When it comes to travel, it's all about the souvenirs! Tokyo's Asakusa—one of Japan's top sightseeing spots—has many places where visitors can buy unique souvenirs. However, deciding where to buy gifts becomes a challenging task when there are so many shops to choose from!
In this article, we introduce five recommended shopping locations in Asakusa. We'll be focusing on large stores where you can complete your shopping in one place. We'll also feature the main souvenirs available at each location.
1. Nakamise Shopping Street: Japanese Sweets Galore!
Photo by Pixta
Nakamise Shopping Street (Nakamise Dori) connects Kaminarimon Gate with Sensoji Temple. Measuring 250 meters in length, it is lined with 89 shops and one of Japan's oldest shotengai (shopping streets).
There are several shops along Nakamise Shopping Street where craftspeople carefully bake rice crackers and ningyo-yaki doll cakes. With many long-established businesses, this is an ideal place to buy traditional Japanese sweets.
Photo by Pixta
For example, right next to Sensoji Temple's Hozomon Gate you'll find Kimuraya (Japanese). This is Asakusa's oldest ningyo-yaki shop.
Ningyo-yaki is a baked confectionery made with flour and eggs (see above photo). Some ningyo-yaki are filled with red bean paste, while others are not. One box of ningyo-yaki filled with red bean paste sells for 800 yen.
If it's rice crackers (senbei) you're after, we recommend Kineya (Japanese). It's located at the intersection of Nakamise Shopping Street with the Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street. Ageokaki, their most famous product, is made by deep-frying dried mochi; a bag of ageokaki costs 300 yen.
The kuri kinton dorayaki (chestnut dorayaki) is another popular Asakusa souvenir that can be found at Umezono (Japanese).
The Japanese-style sweets at Nakamise make perfect souvenirs because they're reasonably priced and taste delicious. We also recommend going from shop to shop and sampling various treats while exploring the area.
The shops sell various goods in addition to confectionery, so please come and visit.
Nakamise Shopping Street
Location: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa, Nakamisedori
Nearest Station: 3 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Subway Line), 3 minutes from Asakusa Station A4 Exit (Toei Asakusa Line)
Business Hours: Depends on the shop, but generally open from 9:00-19:00
Days of Operation: Depends on the shop
Credit Cards: Depends on the shop, but some accept credit cards
Official Website: Nakamise Shopping Street
Hotels near Nakamise Shopping Street
2. EKIMISE: Traditional Craft Shops and a 100 Yen Shop
EKIMISE is a shopping facility connected to Asakusa Station (Tobu Skytree Line). On the first floor, you'll find several shops offering high-quality Japanese confectionery and cosmetics. There's also a supermarket on the underground first floor that offers a wide range of food items and daily necessities.
Additionally, there are several other stores selling unique and original miscellaneous goods that makes EKIMISE the ideal shop for visitors looking to buy unusual Japanese souvenirs.
One of our recommended shops is Megurite (Japanese). It's on the 7th floor and specializes in traditional Japanese crafts. You can buy crafts used in Japanese daily life, from hairbrushes made with all-natural materials to kitchen tools crafted from bamboo.
There's also a 100 yen shop on the 5th floor. Japanese tableware, folding fans, and other miscellaneous goods can be found at just 100 yen (before tax). We recommend looking for souvenirs to give friends or co-workers at Seria, the 100 yen shop.
EKIMISE
Location: Tokyo, Taito, Hanakawado 1-4-1
Nearest Station: Directly connected to Asakusa Station (Tobu Skytree Line), 1 minute on foot from Asakusa Station A7 Exit (Tokyo Metro Ginza Subway Line)
Business Hours: 10:00-20:00
Days of Operation: Open every day (excluding shop inspection days)
Telephone: 03-6802-8633
Credit Cards: Many shops accept VISA, JCB, MasterCard and other cards
Official Website: EKIMISE
Hotels near Asakusa Ekimise
3. Asakusa ROX: The Best Place to Find Cute Character Goods!
Asakusa ROX is a shopping mall that is always bustling with visitors and locals. You can buy items that Japanese people use in their daily life, such as miscellaneous goods and clothes.
For shoppers who like cute things, we recommend BE POP, a miscellaneous goods shop on the first floor. They sell Japan's most popular character goods including Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, and items with characters from Studio Ghibli animations. The shop is lined with a wide selection of products from stuffed animals to pouches and stationery goods.
When it comes to picking a souvenir for yourself or a family member, why not look for clothes or daily goods at Uniqlo, Fashion Center Shimamura, or MUJI?
Many stores accept credit cards, including the UnionPay Card, so visitors can enjoy a worry-free shopping excursion.
Asakusa ROX also has a hot spring at Matsuri-Yu Spa. You'll find 11 different kinds of baths and three varieties of saunas. From the rotemburo (open-air bath), visitors can even get a stunning view of the Tokyo Skytree. Do come here to relax and soothe your body after a long day of shopping!
Asakusa ROX
Location: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-25-15
Nearest Station: 1 minute on foot from Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express Line), 5 minutes from Tawaramachi Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Subway Line)
Business Hours: 10:30-21:00
Days of Operation: Open every day (excluding shop inspection days)
Telephone: 03-3836-7700
Credit Cards: Depends on the shop, but many accept VISA, JCB, MasterCard, and UnionPay Card
Official Website: Asakusa ROX
Hotels near Asakusa ROX
4. Don Quijote: A 24-Hour Discount Chain Store!
Don Quijote is a discount chain store located just one minute on foot from Asakusa Station along the Tsukuba Express Line.
It's open 24 hours a day, so the shop is convenient when you've forgotten to buy a souvenir.
Don Quijote sells various kinds of inexpensive Japanese accessories. It's also duty-free and accepts most credit cards, including the UnionPay Card, so shopping is convenient.
The first-floor souvenir corner is geared for visitors. It's lined with many sweets, including ningyo-yaki (500-1000 yen) and inexpensive snacks (about 100 yen).
In addition to sweets, they offer every kind of item imaginable: medicine, cosmetics, costume uniforms, character goods, party goods, brand-name goods, accessories, clothing, travel bags and suitcases, appliances, and so on!
We've been told that the temporary display shelves at Don Quijote are often filled with heavily discounted items. Customers searching for quality products at cheap prices should look for bargain items here.
Don Quijote Asakusa Shop
Location: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 2-10
Nearest Station: 1 minute on foot from Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express Line), 7 minutes from Tawaramachi Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Subway Line)
Business Hours: 24 hours a day
Days of Operation: Open every day
Credit Cards: VISA, JCB, MasterCard, AMEX, American Express, UnionPay Card
Official Website: Don Quijote
Hotels near Don Quijote Asakusa store
5. Kappabashi Town: Home to Plastic Food Samples
Photo by Pixta
Kappabashi is home to Tokyo's largest concentration of kitchenware shops. Some of them offer plastic food samples, which are trendy souvenirs among international visitors.
These plastic replicas of food are often displayed in showcases outside restaurants. They also act as visual representations of the menu and help attract customers.
This craft is believed to have started in the early twentieth century, during the Taisho and Showa periods. These replicas, which look like actual food, are also popular practical joke items.
You can buy handmade samples at Tokyo Biken (Japanese). At Ganso Shokuhin Sample-Ya Kappabashi Shop, there are workshops to make your own personal food replica. Each shop has its own unique characteristics.
Keyholders decorated with a miniature food sample sell for about 500 yen each.
In addition, Kappabashi sells a variety of kitchenware and tools to help you prepare your next gourmet meal. Visitors interested in Japanese cuisine and cooking should pay a visit here!
Kappabashi Town
Location: Tokyo, Taito, Matsugaya
Nearest Station: 5 minutes on foot from Tawaramachi Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Subway Line), 6 minutes from Iriya Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Subway Line)
Business Hours: Depends on the shop, but generally 9:00-17:00
Days of Operation: Depends on the shop, but about 70% of shops are closed on Sunday
Credit cards: Depends on the shop
Official homepage: Kappabashi Dogu Town
Hotels near Kappabashi Tool Street
Read also
Find Uniquely Japanese Souvenirs in Asakusa!
Centered around Sensoji Temple, Asakusa has been attracting visitors since ancient times. You can buy here unique Japanese souvenirs that can't be found anywhere else!
Using this article as a reference, find the perfect souvenir for your family, friends, and yourself.
Read also
*This article (English translation) is a 2022 revised edition of an article originally published on July 21, 2015 in Traditional Chinese.
1995年生まれで東京外国語大学生です。言語を学ぶことが好きで、大学ではフランス語と英語、あと中国語を学んでいます。
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