Nakamise-Dori Shopping Street

• Address: Sensoji Temple, Asakusa (street between Thunder Gate and Treasure House Gate)
• Tel: +81-3-3844-3350
• Internet site: http://www.asakusa-nakamise.jp

Where is Nakamise-Dori Shopping Street? It is a pilgrimage site from Thunder Gate to Sensoji Temple and one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan. It is a famous tourist attraction in Sensoji Temple, Asakusa. This is a good place to experience Japanese food and buy gifts.

History of Nakamise-Dori shopping street

Nakamise-Dori shopping street is one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan. Since the Tokugawa Ieyasu opened the Edo shogunate, the population of Edo has increased, and more and more tourists have visited the Sensoji Temple. Afterwards, nearby residents who are responsible for cleaning in the Sensoji Temple are granted privileges to operate shops on the shrine. This is the beginning of the shopping street, at the time of period 1688 - 1735.

In the Edo period, there were more than 20 teahouses, many specialty toys shops, snacks shops and local products shops in front of the Sensoji Temple. In this way, the commercial street is gradually forming.

In May of the 18th year of Meiji (1885), the Tokyo government ordered the removal of all the shops in the shopping street. All the shops were closed at that time. Subsequently, the new style of western-style construction made with brick and tile was completed in December of the same year. Modern shopping street was born.

In the war in the 20th year of the Showa era, the shopping street was completely burned down. People continued to work hard and finally revived the shopping street. In the autumn of the 60th year of the Showa era, the store street unveiled the renovation of the lighting signs and the foundation stone resurrection project, and held a variety of ceremonies to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the modern Nakamise-Dori shopping street.

What to buy in Nakamise-Dori shopping street?

Nakamise-Dori shopping street is a pilgrimage site from Thunder Gate to Sensoji Temple and one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan. On both sides of the road about 250 meters long, there are 54 stores on the east side, 35 stores on the west side, and a total of 89 stores. These shops sell a wide variety of souvenirs and food, which is very lively.

When it was almost halfway through, there was a street that intersected the Nakamise-Dori shopping street vertically, called " Shin Nakamise Shopping Street." The shops on this street are covered with rain-covered roofs, with longer roads and late hours of operation.

Among the many shops in Nakamise-Dori shopping street, there are shops selling various items about God, appliances of the Edo period, and various toys, clothing, and traditional umbrellas. You can also taste a variety of snacks on this street. There are many old shops that were founded in the Edo period, such as the "Mu Village" selling snack named “Humanoid burning”, the "Songzhi House" selling kimonos, etc. At the end of the year, Sensoji temple will have a market called "shuttlecock board market". At that time, you will see a variety of toys with image of Kabuki actors, popular artists and even anime characters. If you are interested, you can buy them as a memorial.

How to get to Nakamise-Dori shopping street?

• Take the Tobu Skytree Line and get off at Asakusa Station.
• Take the Subway Toei Asakusa Line and get off at the A4 and A5 exits of Asakusa Station.
• Take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and get off at the Asakusa Station.