Asakusa Walking Tour Review: History, Food & Fun

Visiting Asakusa is almost like stepping back in time, really. It’s one of those Tokyo districts that’s managed to keep its older vibe, you know, even with all the new buildings around. This tour showed us there’s way more to it than just the Senso-ji Temple, and that’s what I’m going to get into, at the end of the day.

Why Asakusa is a Must-See

Asakusa, historically, used to be like, the main entertainment area way back in the Edo period. Picture this: theaters, food stalls, all sorts of performers, that sort of thing. Nowadays, that old vibe? It’s still there, in some respects. Plus, it is that area where you’ll find Senso-ji Temple, which could be Tokyo’s oldest temple, so too, it’s got historical weight.

Okay, Senso-ji Temple has, apparently, been around for donkey’s years – talking about the 7th century! That’s quite some time. See, what’s kind of cool is how the whole district sprang up around the temple itself. Think of people setting up shops and such for the stream of visitors…that sort of thing over centuries. Anyway, all that combined kinda makes Asakusa this unique mix of the past and present, alright?

Booking the Tour

Actually, sorting this tour out was pretty simple. I think I just Googled “Asakusa walking tour” and picked one that seemed okay from the reviews. Most tour websites have booking calendars. You, apparently, find the date you want, that kind of stuff. Then just punch in your details and pay up, you know, and then wait for that confirmation email.

Also, is that thing where you can see how many people are going to be in the tour group, you know? Smaller groups might mean you get to ask more questions, which could be a win, in a way. Read what others said, see if folks liked their tour guide or not. That’s what I reckon, at the end of the day.

What You’ll See on the Tour

Alright, so the tour I chose covered, what’s that, quite a bit, really. Basically, the big hitter was definitely Senso-ji Temple, that, and the Nakamise-dori street running up to it, okay?

Senso-ji Temple: A Highlight

Right, Senso-ji is, possibly, Asakusa’s number one spot. The big red Kaminarimon Gate? Very photogenic. Okay, as you walk through, you can see Nakamise Street full of, how do I say it, loads of different shops, yeah? Once you are past the shops, then you, more or less, get to the main temple area.

Burning incense, the big temple building…and then people chucking coins in and saying a quick prayer, it’s all part of the thing, clearly. Oh, you can try your luck with an omikuji (fortune slip), is that something that sounds fun? Shake the box, get a stick, find the matching drawer. Getting a bad fortune might not be the best feeling, but you can tie it to a wire frame there so it doesn’t follow you, that is quite clever.

Nakamise-dori Street: Snack Heaven

Nakamise-dori…basically, picture this, all sorts of snack opportunities, actually! Seriously, from ningyo-yaki (small cakes filled with bean paste), to age-manju (deep-fried buns), you know? Okay, there’s loads of stuff to sample as you stroll along. Also, there are shops selling, something like, cool fans, keychains, and different Japanese-style trinkets. It tends to be pretty busy during the day.

Mind you, so it is good to know a bit about these food places, you know? Chat with the guide about where to try stuff. Guides, really, often have their go-to vendors, more or less. Actually, the sesame ice cream…very good, like your average desert, really.

Hidden Gems Around Asakusa

Alright, that Asakusa tour did a cool thing, so too, it did not just focus on the main stuff, see? I am talking about heading down some of those side streets. That’s something to look into when you’re looking at tours, actually.

Anyway, there are places like Janome Street, which, if I recall, has something like, old craft shops and some stores selling cool paper umbrellas, so too, they can look pretty classy. Then there’s Hoppy Street… Okay, the guide will, at times, know somewhere good. Seriously, finding them on your own might not be so simple.

The Tour Guide: A Key Part

You see, a tour’s quality really, I feel, comes down to the guide, okay? Now, what can make a decent tour guide is that thing of how well they can tell you about the stuff you’re looking at. The, what’s the word, that background stuff? The cool tales, bits of gossip… seriously, the things you wouldn’t read about on the usual tourist websites?

Plus, they’re there to point you to some really good food, clearly. Getting to know about where to get something good and local is very key. Especially when a place, like Asakusa, can be something like crazy busy and packed with tourists, see? Now, they can let you in on where the crowds probably aren’t, or tell you when is possibly the top time to try and find somewhere. Very clever, I tell you.

What Makes a Good Guide

You may think, alright, that a tour guide that just loves chatting, so too, would just add loads to a tour. The deal is, seriously, finding that somebody who also knows what they’re chatting about? Well, that’s golden.

Look, if I booked again, then you just want somebody that speaks your lingo all right. Someone that gets where you’re coming from when you, very likely, ask any questions. In any case, they can point stuff out you might stroll past. It’s almost that they just notice things, you see.

And being ready with back-up ideas in case, possibly, stuff has changed or isn’t running like it, nearly, always would, is something really worthwhile. Being keen, able to think on their feet, you understand? In summary, basically, they sort it out if something’s not going like it should do. What’s that, I find that important, as a matter of fact.

Photo Opportunities Galore

If you like taking photographs, okay, Asakusa? Well, very, very, decent. You might just snap away from that second you step out of the subway station, so too, there’s plenty to grab.

The Kaminarimon Gate: Iconic

Clearly, that massive Kaminarimon Gate…arguably, a winner to start things off! Right, the big lantern is pretty something, anyway. And people want those photographs with it to, so, prove they came! Getting it without many folks hanging about, though? It, might be, nearly tricky.

Street Photography on Nakamise-dori

Walking down Nakamise Street has that thing of almost being like a street performance. So much happening around. Different colors, tasty looking food…is that something you like?

Getting snaps of the store displays with all that tempting food close-up? What’s that, Instagram gold! Keep an eye out to catch store workers, they are, sometimes, very cool wearing traditional outfits and getting on with things. Really good photo fodder.

Temple Grounds: Serenity and Details

Step, more or less, into the temple part and get your camera out. So too, it’s worth focusing on particular details like the carving designs, or, that kind of thing, you know?

There are, more or less, always people lighting incense, tossing coins into donation boxes, that sort of stuff. Trying to snap those brief happenings and moments can definitely add something, is that something that sounds like fun to you? You probably might get quite cool and interesting shots. Make sure, maybe, to be thoughtful and avoid being, kind of, bothersome, even though, naturally.

Is the Asakusa Walking Tour Worth It?

In any case, yes! And, basically, particularly, so too, if you’re fairly new to visiting the district or perhaps are, possibly, just pretty pushed for time, right? To that point, you get way more than just doing it all on your very own, I think.

Basically, what would be valuable about these things? Is that those personal takes that guides have. So too, knowing neat little places or tales. If all you’re trying to do is that thing where you tick off all the main things on a checklist, basically, you might feel okay exploring it without help.