The first thing to do in Asakusa is to visit Sensoji Temple. The temple was established in the year 628, and it is the oldest temple in Tokyo. It also attracts 30 million visitors from Japan and the world.

The famous photo spot of Sensoji Temple is the red lantern that has the character “Kaminarimon” (雷門) written on it. The official name is Furaijinmon, and make sure you don’t miss Fujin and Raijin - the deities of wind and rain - that are enshrined to the sides of the gate.

In front of Sensoji Temple, there are many people who are waving smoke to themselves. This is called “Jokoro” and it is said that if you wave smoke to the part of your body with an illness, it will cure it.

Inside the temple grounds, they sell good luck charms called omikuji. There are also fortune slips in English, and we recommend giving it a shot!

Money spent: 300 yen for fortune slip + monetary offering

Nakamise Shopping Street (Nakamise Dori) is located between the Furaijinmon and Hozomon. It is one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets and, there are many shops that sell perfect gifts such as kimono goods, chopsticks, small goods and toys with Japanese designs.

There are also many shops that sell Japanese sweets, such as the Kaminari Okoshi made from rice, and Ningyoyaki, which are little baked cakes that are shaped like people or animals.

Recently items such as age-manju (sweet deep-fried cakes), melon pan (type of sweet bun), and kibi dango (millet dumpling) have been added to the regional specialty and have long lines in front of their stores.

Since you can eat snacks on the go, we recommend trying different foods that interest you. It's one of the most fun things to do in Asakusa!

Money spent: 1,000 yen for snacks

With your back towards Sensoji Temple’s Furaijinmon, you can see the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center to the front. At the tourist information center, there are staff members who can speak foreign languages, and you can receive sightseeing information for Asakusa and Tokyo.

The observation terrace is on the 8th floor. It is a great spot to get a panoramic view of the cityscape of Asakusa for free. You can even see Tokyo Skytree to the right. Take a break at one of the benches, and you can plan your next move.

Money spent: 0 yen

Gyu-Katsu has become popular in recent years in Japan. It is deep-fried beef that is covered in panko bread crumbs. It doesn’t have a lingering aftertaste for a deep-fried dish and receives good reviews domestically and internationally.

The largest domestic Gyu-katsu chain Kyoto Katsugyu, which started the trend, has a restaurant in Asakusa, and we recommend having lunch here. The Kyoto Katsugyu Asakusa Hanayashiki Store is located about 5 minutes form Senso-ji Temple. Look for the large lantern.

The interior of the store has lanterns and Japanese style tile roofs, which creates a sophisticated Japanese atmosphere.

At Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, they believe that the best condition to eat gyu-katsu is “medium rare,” and provides real “gyukatsu” cut from specially selected quality “authentic blocks of beef,” instead of chunks of processed and bound meat.

The menu offers various parts such as rib-eye, chuck, tongue, tenderloin, and kuroge wagyu. The most popular item on the menu is the “Kuroge Wagyu Gyukatsu Kyotama-zen” 2,480 yen (excluding tax). The dish offers umami of the fat and rich flavor of the beef, and it is a popular dish with Japanese people and foreign visitors too.

Another popular dish is the “Gyu-Rose Katsuzen Nami” 1,380 yen (excluding tax). It is a katsu where the umami of the red meat is condensed; also it has been the main dish on the menu since the store opened. A nice part of the restaurant is you can get free refills of barley rice, cabbage, and akadashi miso soup.

A unique feature of Kyoto Katsugyu is they offer various types of sauce. The Gyu-Rose Katsuzen has 5 types of sauces, we recommend eating it in the order of wasabi shoyu, sansho shio (Japanese pepper and salt), Gyukatsu sauce, Kyo-curry sauce, and Onsen tamago (soft boiled egg).

First, start with the light flavored sauce of shoyu and sansho, and then you can use the curry sauce or egg and eat it with rice. We finished our meal in no time while trying out different sauces.

The menu and seasonings are written in English, so you know exactly what you are eating.

Also from September, they offer an all-you-can-drink plan at night, which is only available at the Asakusa Hanayashiki store. The all-you-can-drink plan includes niku-tofu (simmered beef and tofu), kushi-age (deep fried skewered meat and vegetables), 30 types of drinks, rice, and akadashi miso soup. It is a great deal and a great choice for dinner.

Money spent: 1,380 yen for lunch

Right in front of Kyoto Katsugyu Hanayashiki Store is Japan’s oldest amusement park Asakusa Hanayashiki, which opened in 1853. The main attraction is the Roller Coaster. It was created in 1953, and it is the oldest roller coaster in Japan. It goes at a whopping 42km/hr, and the relatively slow speed is oddly refreshing!

There are other fun rides, such as the free-falling machine “Space Shot.”

Also, there is the “Ennichi” section where you can enjoy Japanese festival games year-round.

Money spent: Entrance fee 1,000 yen + attraction fees @ 100 yen per ride x 3 = 1,300 yen

Money spent: 4,120 yen + monetary offering *calculated with 10% consumption tax

You can fully enjoy Asakusa under 5,000 yen when focusing your tour around historical buildings such as Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Asakusa Hanayashiki, all while eating delicious food! We hope that you have a wonderful time in Asakusa!