Most people, for good reasons, visit Asakusa in Tokyo to see and experience the beautiful Sensō-ji temple. So while you are there, here are 5 other things to do in Asakusa, Tokyo.
1. Eat Monja Korokke
Korokke are a very popular snack found all over Tokyo, in shops and as street food. There are many flavours to choose from, but essentially a breaded and fried potato based item.
Asakusa however has a very unique and exclusive version, combining korokke with monjayaki
(a distinctly Asakusan version of okonomiyaki).
They can be found at various street food sellers around Asakusa, but we recommend Monkoro! They are on Instagram!
You can buy their monja korokke at the street food stall half way down Tanuki Street. My favourite was the monja cheese korokke!
2. Drink Matcha Beer
Of course we all know how much Japan loves it’s delicious and vibrant Matcha, but did you know that you can get it in beer?
Actually, you can find many matcha flavoured things, including ice-cream, cakes and even udon!
You should definitely try matcha beer while you are in Asakusa!
We enjoyed ours at the Special Matcha Sweets Kaminari Issa, which is right by Sensō-ji!
They also sell many other matcha flavoured items, be sure to check them out!
3. Eat A Giant Senbei!
Did you know that you can squash a whole octopus into a giant senbei only 2mm thick?
It might not look so big in the first photo, but trust me this senbei was about 40cm in diameter, and can easily be shared!
4. Eat Monjayaki
I already mentioned monja korokke above, but it would be a shame for anyone to visit Asakusa and NOT try the real thing!
Monjayaki is a variant of the popular Okonomiyaki dishes originating in slightly different forms from Hiroshima and Osaka.
Monjayaki has a distinct identity as a Tokyo, or more specifically Asakusa dish.
Yeah…. It might look a little messy, but TRUST ME…. It is absolutely delicious!
Eaten straight off the hot plate, it thickens and gets more little crispy bits as time moves on… Perfect with a nice cold beer!
5. Visit An Izakaya
Speaking of nice cold beer… There are plenty of open air Izakaya in Asakusa.
Izakaya is a type of, usually casual, Japanese bar or pub. Serving light snacks and drinks for affordable prices in a lively and friendly atmosphere!
Hoppy Street is a very popular street dedicated to Izakaya.. Essentially, every single business down this road, is an Izakaya!
So take an evening walk down Hoppy Street, take in the smells and stop in to one, or more that appeal to you..
Please note that it is expected that you also order food along with your drinks in most Izakaya!
Bonus. Rakugo
Rakugo is a Japanese style story based comedy, performed to an audience by a solo story teller.
With roots from before the Edo period (1670) every Rakugo master was once an apprentice to another, and the stories have been passed down from many years ago. The Rakugo artists typically keep to these traditional stories and sometimes add some of their own.
Usually these are Japanese language performances, however… There is an English speaking Rakygo master by the name of Katsura Sunshine-san who performs every month at the Asakusa Mokubakan performing arts theatre.
If you are lucky enough for your visit to coincide with one of his performances, then I highly recommend you purchase tickets via his website, here.
Sunshine-san is a master of his art and an incredibly friendly guy. Be sure to have an after-show beer with him at the Izakaya opposite the theatre!
Whatever you decide to do in Asakusa, I hope you enjoy your visit. These are just a small few of the many amazing things on offer in this beautiful part of Tokyo.
Thank you for reading.
