Half a day in Asakusa: Sensoji Temple and a choice of unagi or yakisoba

When you arrive in Asakusa, take a photo at Kaminarimon and head to Sensoji Temple. And eat somewhere. Why not spend half a day like that without having to worry about finding a store?

This plan centres on a visit to Sensoji Temple and one meal. An unhurried unagi meal and a casual plate of yakisoba are two separate options. Enjoy exploring the neighbourhood at a comfortable pace rather than trying every famous food in one visit.

All you have to decide before you leave is your return time and lunch.

As an editorial guideline, we assume that you will have about half a day to spare from arrival at the station to departure. This is not an actual measurement of the time required, but a planning frame that takes into account crowds and food waits. If you have a train transfer or a reservation, please decide the time you will leave Asakusa in advance.

If you choose eel, check the reservation and reception procedures in advance so you can plan your meal around the meal. On the day you choose yakisoba, make sure to check if the restaurant is open before heading there. ``If you go to Asakusa, you won't always be able to eat the food you want.''

If you have a large suitcase, you may want to ask the hotel first if you can leave it there. This guide does not guarantee availability of available lockers or luggage storage. Before you start a long walk with your luggage, think about the burden of the day.

Make Kaminarimon your first destination

The Asakusa area can be accessed from multiple railways, but the starting point is to check not only the station name but also the route and exit you used. Do not apply the exit number provided in the store information to a station on a different line.

Kaminarimon is the first landmark when walking around town. It is possible that the route passes through Nakamise and heads towards Sensoji Temple. Sensoji Temple, the surrounding shopping street, and the Sumida Riverside are introduced as Asakusa attractions in the Tokyo tourist guide.¹

When taking photos, you want to stand a little further away from the flow of people. If you are eating or drinking in front of a store, please use the area indicated by the store or local notice board, and dispose of packaging according to the instructions there.

At Sensoji Temple, we will make time to pray once.

The temple's name is pronounced Sensoji. Its official guidance describes praying with your palms joined. If you choose to pray, take a quiet moment to do so, even briefly, rather than simply passing through to take photographs.²

The separate Sensoji Temple visitor guide explains the purification basin and the main hall. You do not have to take part in religious practices. If you are simply looking around, leave space for people who are praying.

The opening hours of the main hall vary depending on the season. Seeing the exterior at night and entering the main hall to worship are not the same. For late arrival dates, please check official information for available ranges.²

Lunch A: Make eel the main event of the day.

For an unagi meal, allow time to reach the restaurant, order and eat at a relaxed pace. Komagata Maekawa Asakusa main restaurant is in Komagata, while Asakusa Unatetsu Asakusa Station main restaurant is in Hanakawado. Both are in the Asakusa area, but you will be heading to different locations.³⁴

If you have a reservation before your meal, count backwards from that time and round up your walk. If you are unsure of what to order, deciding whether you are interested in unaju or hitsumabushi before entering the restaurant will make it easier to choose the menu.

Compare the dishes, locations and additional charges in the Asakusa unagi restaurant guide.

Lunch B: A casual meal at Yakisoba in the underground shopping mall

Another option other than eel is Fukuchan, a yakisoba restaurant in the Asakusa underground shopping center. The underground shopping mall can be accessed from Exit 6 of Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, and the store name and yakisoba offerings of Fukuchan can be confirmed in external store information. It is necessary to reconfirm the latest business status of individual stores before visiting.⁵⁶

On this day, consider finding the entrance to the underground shopping mall as part of your walk around the city, so it's best not to include it right before you have to change trains. Please judge specific traffic conditions locally, such as whether you can walk through stairs or narrow spaces with large luggage.

Decide on your post-meal stroll based on the time you have left.

If you have time after your meal, you can walk towards the Sumida River, do some shopping, or go back to the hotel and rest. Any of these will be a great way to end this half day. The route along the Sumida River is recommended as one of Asakusa's walking destinations, but there is no need to force yourself to walk on a day when the weather is bad.¹

Whether or not you fully enjoyed Asakusa is not determined by the number of items you ate or the number of photos you took. Take a breather at the temple and choose a meal that suits your mood that day. Add half a day in Tokyo to your itinerary before heading to Kyoto or Mt. Fuji.

Check the source/official information (6 items)

1. Tokyo Metropolitan Government/Tokyo Tourism Foundation GO TOKYO "Asakusa Area Guide". Check official information . Online confirmation: September 28, 2026.↩

2. Sensoji Temple "Sensoji Temple: Frequently Asked Questions". Check official information . Online confirmation: September 28, 2026.↩

3. Komagata Maekawa "Komagata Maekawa: Access". Check official information . Online confirmation: September 28, 2026.↩

4. Asakusa Unatetsu "Asakusa Unatetsu: Store Information". Check official information . Online confirmation: September 28, 2026.↩

5. Asakusa Underground Mall Volunteer Association ``Asakusa Underground Mall''. Check official information . Online confirmation: September 28, 2026.↩

6. Tabelog "Fukuchan store information". Check published information . Online confirmation: September 28, 2026. Please double check with the store before visiting as this information is posted by a third party.↩