Nakamise Shopping Street

The Basics

Nakamise Street links the carved wooden Kaminarimon (“Thunder”) gate at Sens?-ji Buddhist Temple to the main temple hall. The short street is lined with vendors selling both traditional and kitschy souvenirs—everything from cotton kimonos to fridge magnets. A visit to Nakamise Street is a good opportunity to taste some of Tokyo’s most popular snacks such as freshly made rice crackers or traditional sweets like ningyo yaki, a sweet cake filled with red bean paste. Some visitors opt to visit Nakamise street as part of a guided tour to find the best vendors.

Make sure you also explore the temple here. It’s Tokyo’s oldest temple, completed in the year 645 AD. The temple with its oversized lanterns and incense burner (whose smoke it is said gives a divine blessing) is one of Tokyo’s most famous sights.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Nakamise Street is wheelchair accessible.
• Many of the shops and vendors are cash-only.
• There are a number of special event days at the temple when celebrations take over the street.

How to Get There

Nakamise street is best enjoyed on foot. Visitors can take part in a guided tour with round-trip transport provided or head to Asakusa metro station for access to Sens?-ji temple.

When to Get There

The shops along Nakamise Street are open every day, usually from around 10am-6pm. Sens?-ji Temple is often busy, it’s one of the most popular tourist sites in the city. Head to the area early to avoid the crowds.

Get your fortune told at Sens?-ji Temple

Don’t miss the chance to get your fortune at Sens?-ji Temple. Drop a 100 yen coin in the box near the main temple building to get a slip of paper telling your fortune. If you draw a less-than-favorable result, don’t worry; if you tie your paper fortune to one of the railings you’ll leave the bad luck behind when you leave.

Ways to explore

Nakamise Street links the carved wooden Kaminarimon (“Thunder”) gate at Senso-ji Temple to the main temple hall. Vendors here sell both traditional and kitschy souvenirs—everything from cotton kimonos to fridge magnets. A visit to Nakamise Street is a good opportunity to taste some of Tokyo’s most popular snacks, such as ningyo yaki (a sweet cake filled with red bean paste), and the street often features on food tours of the area. Nakamise Shopping Street is a staple of Asakusa sightseeing tours, thanks to its proximity to Senso-ji Temple.

Accessibility

While the street and temple offer step-free access, the huge crowds here can be challenging for travelers with limited mobility.

Age limits

None

What to pack

A reusable bag; the stalls here are packed full of cute souvenirs, artwork, and clothing.

What to wear

Ensure your valuables are secure in this often heaving area, so wear clothing with zipped pockets.

Not allowed

Photography of certain shops

Amenities

Stores, food kiosks

Address

Nakamise Shopping Street is pedestrianized, so you can only explore it on foot. It’s best explored as part of a walking tour of the wider Asakusa neighborhood.

Driving

The temple is well-connected by public transport, and driving in Tokyo can be congested—so, if you can, leave the car behind.

Public transportation

Take the Tobu Skytree line, the Toei Asakusa Subway line, the Tokyo Metro Ginza line, or the Tsukuba Express (TX) line to Asakusa, which is within a 5-minute walk of Nakamise Shopping Street.

Best times to visit

Most stalls here open from 10am through to 7pm, so come at lunchtime or early evening to enjoy street food for lunch or dinner. You can arrive after the shops close to admire the painted shutters.

Best days to visit

The area is busy daily, but weekends tend to be more bustling when locals are off work.

Best months to visit

Avoid Nakamise Shopping Street at the start of January, when Japanese travelers flock from across the country for New Year prayers, and the crowds are unmanageable.

Special events

The procession for the Sanja Matsuri festival (a Shinto celebration) begins at Senso-ji Temple in mid-May.