Ameyoko Shopping Street (Ameya-Yokocho)

The Basics

Ameyoko Shopping Street is known for its cheap prices and wide variety of goods. As its name suggests, it was once full of candy shops, but after WWII, vendors started offering black-market goods from America. Nowadays it’s more of a general shopping area and a place to find fresh or ready-to-eat seafood snacks. The vendors here are lively and vocal, and Ameyoko can be a fun place to shops for souvenirs as well as a meal.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The market is partly covered, making it a convenient place to shop in any weather.

• This is one of the few places in Tokyo where it’s acceptable to bargain. Keep it polite and friendly.

• There are limited places to sit down and eat, so it’s best to choose a snack that can be eaten while standing.

• Ameyoko is near the Ueno area, which is full of galleries and museums and also boasts a large park.

How to Get There

Ameyoko Shopping Street is located between Ueno and Okachimachi Stations on the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. It’s a short walk from both. Ueno is a large station with many exits; take the Central exit for the quickest access.

When to Get There

Opening hours vary shops to shop, but you will find most open between 10am and 8pm. Some shops are closed on Wednesdays, and the area gets very crowded on weekends. Locals like to shop here before New Years to buy traditional foods for the holiday, and it can get uncomfortably crowded at that time of year. Fruit sold by the various vendors is often discounted towards the end of the day.

Shop at Kappabashi

For another quirky shopping experience, head to Kappabashi Street, near Asakusa. This is the place to go for kitchen utensils, chef’s clothing, everything needed to kit out a restaurant, including the plastic food displays that you see in many Japanese restaurant windows. It’s a fun place to window shop or pick up some local cookware.

Ways to explore

Ameyoko Shopping Street is known for its cheap prices and wide variety of goods. It was once full of candy shops, but after World War II, vendors started offering black-market goods from America. Nowadays, it’s more of a general shopping area and a place to find seafood snacks. The vendors here are lively and vocal, making Ameyoko a fun place to shop for souvenirs.

The street is a fixture on some Tokyo shopping trips and walking tours of the Ueno neighborhood. You can also visit independently while exploring Ueno and the attraction-packed Ueno Park.

Accessibility

While Ameyoko is generally accessible, the street can get very crowded so it can be challenging to navigate in a wheelchair.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Reusable shopping bags, hand sanitizer or wet wipes

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, raincoat, sun hat

Not allowed

Eating while walking is frowned upon in Japan, so stop at a stall with outdoor seating to grab a snack.

Amenities

Use the restrooms in Ueno or Okachimachi stations, or in some restaurants with indoor seating.

Address

Ameyoko Shopping Street is located between Ueno and Okachimachi stations in northern–central Tokyo, just south of sprawling Ueno Park. It’s a short walk west of both stations.

Driving

Driving in central Tokyo isn’t recommended due to heavy traffic and the difficulty of parking. If you must drive, you’ll likely have to park quite far from Ameyoko and walk. Find paid parking lots and garages around Ueno Park.

Public transportation

Take one of several JR or Tokyo Metro lines (including the handy JR Yamanote line) that run through large Ueno Station. Follow the Central exit for the quickest access to the street.

Best times to visit

Opening hours vary from shop to shop, but you’ll find that most open between 10am and 8pm. It’s quieter in the mornings.

Best days to visit

Some shops are closed on Wednesdays. The area gets very crowded on weekends, so come midweek for a more leisurely experience.

Best months to visit

Much of the market is outdoors, so it’s best to avoid visiting during the extremely wet, humid summer season (July–September).

Special events

Ueno hosts several festivals throughout the year, including the month-long summer festival (from mid-July). Locals like to shop here before New Year’s to buy traditional foods for the holiday, so although it’s festive, it can get uncomfortably crowded in late December.