From between 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., normally crowded spots in Asakusa such as Kaminarimon Gate and Sensoji are almost empty, making it the perfect opportunity to take pictures without any passing stragglers. There’s no need to wait at the same spot with your camera in hand for the perfect moment to come, and you can just snap your photo and move on to your next spot with ease.

Built in the year 628, over 30 million people visit Sensoji Temple annually. But in the early morning, even this street is sparse and uncrowded. You can take you time appreciating the beauty of Japanese architecture.

Though there is a charm to leisurely touring the area and taking in the history and architecture of the area when you come in the early morning, most shops still aren’t open, and it can be difficult searching for just sightseeing spots to entertain yourself with.

Here are four shops which open early in the morning that the LIVE JAPAN team is recommending, after much careful deliberation!

A coffeeshop with a long history, “Café Tomorrow Asakusa” is a place to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee in the morning. As it opens from 6:30 a.m., it’s perfect for early morning sightseeing in Asakusa. Though the shop is outfitted in a retro style, there are English menus available. As the place also provides free Wi-Fi, A.C. adaptors, and even smartphone charging cables, it is particularly tourist friendly.

The most popular item in the morning is the “Mix Morning Set”, at 660 yen (with tax). With a main of toast with ham and scrambled eggs, it comes with a side salad and soup as well, for a hearty and filling breakfast.

Along one of the walls in the café is a bookshelf lined with books donated by the shop’s regular customers. Patrons are free to read them at their pleasure.

The restrooms provide various amenities as well, including nail files, facial paper (for gents), and blotting paper (for ladies), and is a nice touch of service. If you’re visiting Asakusa, be sure to drop by!

“Tokiwado Kaminari Okoshi Honpo” is right next to Kaminarimon Gate, and is a unique Japanese snack shop with a long history, and beautiful Japanese architecture. The shop’s namesake, the “Kaminari Okoshi”, is a bestseller that has been sold for the past 200 years ago! Made by mixing roasted rice with various types of sugar before being hardened into candy, its selling point is in its light sweetness.

Depending on the time of day, you may get a chance to see the snacks being made as they’re sold too, and you can eat the freshly made kaminari okoshi as you stroll down the street. On the second floor is the “Raimon Tenbō Shokudō”, a café where you can gaze upon Kaminarimon Gate while enjoying a meal. It’s a must-visit sightseeing spot in Asakusa!

At Kimono Rental Vasara, you can rent one of Japan’s iconic traditional costumes, the kimono, and stroll through the city in it. Asakusa, with its numerous historic Japanese style buildings, is the perfect location for wearing kimono in. The shop has staff who can speak English, Chinese, and Korean, which makes it easy for foreign visitors to use their services well.

Besides kimono rentals, the shop provides services for Sadō, traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, making it the perfect place to experience authentic Japanese culture. Just a two to three-minute walk away from Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate, it’s in the perfect location to rent and return your rentals with ease. If there’s one place that can significantly rank up your sightseeing experience in Asakusa, it’s this!

The shop opens from 9 a.m., so why not pop by for your after-breakfast stroll around Asakusa?

Beginning with just Japanese restaurants, Asakusa Ekimise has grown into a convenient shopping mall, with over 150 shops including souvenir shops, boutiques, electronics, traditional Japanese goods, daily necessities, and more! As it’s connected directly to Asakusa station, it’s convenient to visit even on rainy days. Shops open from 10:00 a.m.

The rooftop observation deck, “Hare Terrace”, is built like a radio tower, and is the best place in the world to get a stunning view of Tokyo Skytree. Furnished with tables and chairs, it’s a great place to catch a breather after shopping.

Wi-Fi is provided on the seventh floor as well, making it convenient for tourists.

There’s a Japanese saying that good things come to those that get up early, and there are many merits to visiting Asakusa in the early morning. You can enjoy a fresh morning at temple, have a relaxing breakfast, and begin your sightseeing adventure in Asakusa with a good start!

<@Written by: Medium KK|@>