The spirit of Edo lives on in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, more than any other part of the city. Asakusa also plays host to many of the latest developments in fashion, cuisine, and culture. This article looks at some of the shops and restaurants that capture the essence of the neighborhood.

The Asakusa district of Tokyo is famous for preserving the spirit of the capital’s past. Visitors can still glimpse traces of the Edo period (1603–1868). The neighborhood revolves around Sensōji, a beloved Buddhist temple visited by millions of worshippers over the years. Thanks to this constant influx of people to Asakusa, restaurants and shops have long flourished in the area. Today, many of these establishments remain in business and carry on the old traditions.

(Clicking on one of the thumbnails below will take you to an article on that shop or restaurant)

(Originally written in Japanese by Motoyoshi Kyōko. Photographs by Katō Takemi and Kodera Kei.)

▼Click below for an interview with the rakugo storyteller Hayashiya Shōzō, who discusses some of the charms of the Asakusa area:

The Neighborly Humor of “Sit-Down Comedy”