Asakusa & Ryogoku - Guide
Sensoji Temple [浅草寺] link
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Sensoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple known for its Shitamachi atmosphere, though most of its buildings are post-war reconstructions made with concrete. Its Japanese stroll garden (last two photos) is open to the public from around mid-March to early May for 300 yen. Many events are held at this temple, and the most notable of them is Honzon-jigen-e held on March 17-18.
[details...]
Asakusa Jinja Shrine [浅草神社]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Asakusa Jinja, a Shinto shrine next to Sensoji Temple, honors three commoners who were engaged in the foundation of the temple. Unlike the temple it survived the Second World War, thus its buildings being those constructed in the Edo period. It's Sanja-matsuri held in mid-May is one of the most famous traditional festival in Tokyo. Some other events like Asakusa Kodomo Kabuki Matsuri are also held.
[details...]
Edo-Tokyo Museum [江戸東京博物館] link
Sumida-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:30-17:30; 600yen; closed Mon* & late Dec-early Jan
In the Edo-Tokyo Museum, there are many models, full-sized or miniature, of buildings that used to exist in the town of Edo and its successor Tokyo.
[details...]
Yokoami-cho Koen Park [横網町公園]
Sumida-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
The current buildings in this park were constructed to commemorate the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. The Tokyo Memorial Hall built in 1930 has a unique appearance, its front exterior resembling that of a Shinto shrine, its rear a pagoda of a Buddhist temple, its interior a Christian church.
[details...]6-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station
Kyu-Yasuda Teien Garden [旧安田庭園]
Sumida-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:00-16:30 (-18:00 Jun-Aug); free; closed Dec 29-Jan 1
Kyu-Yasuda Garden is a small Japanese stroll garden initially constructed as part of a domain lord's residence. At that time the garden drew in water from the river mouth of the Sumida River to enjoy the changes of scenery caused by its ebbs and flows. Currently this phenomenon is simulated by a water pump.
[details...]7-min walk from JR Ryogoku Station
Mukojima Hyakkaen Gardens [向島百花園]
Sumida-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:00-17:00; 150yen; closed Dec 29-Jan 3
Mukojima Hyakkaen Gardens is a Japanese stroll garden created by a rich merchant in the Edo period.
[details...]4-min walk from Tobu Skytree Line Higashi-Mukojima Station
Others
Ushijima Jinja Shrine 牛嶋神社
Sumida-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Ushijima Jinja is a Shinto shrine across the Sumida River from the Asakusa district.
[details...]6-min walk from Tobu Line Tokyo-Skytree Station
Map
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Ueno - Guide
Ueno Koen Park [上野恩賜公園]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
The whole of Ueno Park used to be the grounds of Kan'eiji Temple but was destroyed in 1868 by the civil war and was converted into a park, though some of the peripheral buildings still remain. It is also one of the most renowned sites for its cherry blossom in spring in Japan. Events like the Satsuki Festival are also held. In July, The Ueno Natsu Matsuri Parade will be held along the main street adjoining the park.
[details...]Tokyo National Museum [東京国立博物館] link
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:30-17:00; permanent exhibition 1000yen;closed Mon* & late Dec-early Jan
Founded in 1872 as the first museum in this country, the Tokyo National Museum exhibits many excellent art works (and you can take pictures for many of them). Other than the works on display inside, its buildings are also notable. The main building built in 1937 in Japanese-style, a Western-style palace constructed in 1908, the main gate of a feudal domain lord's residence in Edo, and such. The backyard garden with some more buildings is open to the public only around March to April and October to December (without extra fee).
[details...]National Museum of Nature and Science [国立科学博物館] link
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:00-17:00; permanent exhibition 630yen;closed Mon* & late Dec-early Jan
This musuem, exhibiting things what its name indicates, was initially part of the present Tokyo National Museum.
Ueno Toshogu Shrine [上野東照宮]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Ueno Toshogu is a Shinto shrine enshrining Tokugawa Shogunate founder Tokugawa Ieyasu. Its shrine complex constructed in the Edo era is still preserved. You can take a close look at them if you are willing to pay 500yen for admission (9:30-16:00, open daily).
[details...]Gojotenjin Shrine & Hanazono Inari Jinja Shrine [五条天神社・花園稲荷神社]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Gojotenjin and Hanazono Inari Jinja, located in Ueno Park, are small shrines which share the grounds. On February 3, it holds an event called Ukera no Shinji which preserves an old form of Setsubun ceremony.
[details...]Tokyo University Hongo & Yayoi Campus [東京大学 本郷・弥生キャンパス]
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Tokyo University is the top-ranking university in Japan. Tens of so-called College Gothic buildings built prior to WWII stand on its campus.
[details...]
Kan'eiji Temple [寛永寺]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Kan'eiji is a major Tendai Buddhist temple. As one of the three temples where Tokugawa shoguns were buried, it used to have vast grounds but they were almost completely destroyed by the civil war of the Meiji Restoration and were transformed into the Ueno Park. Thus some facilities of the temple still remain in the park. As for the shoguns' graves, they were burned down in WWII and only two small gates
(and a few more small buildings which are not on public display) remain.
[details...] (and a few more small buildings which are not on public display) remain.
Yushima Tenjin Shrine [湯島天神（湯島天満宮）]
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Yushima Tenjin is a small but popular Shinto shrine near Ueno Park. The Ume Matsuri (apricot festival) in February and the Kiku Matsuri (chrysanthemum exhibition) in fall is espeicially well-known. The Reitaisai is also pretty large in even-numbered years.
[details...]2-min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Yushima Station
Kyu-Iwasakitei Gardens [旧岩崎邸庭園]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:00-17:00; 400yen; closed 12/29-1/1
This mansion used to be the main residence of the Iwasaki family who owned Mitsubishi Conglomerate until the end of WWII, though its present size is one-third of what it used to be.
[details...]3-min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Yushima Station
Others
Enshuin Temple 円珠院
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Enshuin is a small Tendai temple with a neat garden.
[details...]
Shitamachi Museum 下町風俗資料館
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
9:30-17:30 (-16:30 Nov-Mar); 300yen; closed Mon* & late Dec-early Jan
Shitamachi Museum is a small museum focusing on Shitamachi culture. Taking photos is allowed.
[details...]
Ameyoko Market アメ横
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Ameya Yokocho, often briefly called Ameyoko, is an open-air market along the elevated railway from JR Ueno Station to JR Okachimachi Station. It retains the atmosphere of the black market which emerged here after WWII.
[details...]
Rinshoin Temple 麟祥院
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Rinshoin is a small but neat Rinzai zen temple close to Yushima Tenjin.
[details...]7-min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Yushima Station
Shitaya Jinja Shrine 下谷神社
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Shitaya Jinja is a Shinto shrine near Ueno which preserves a complex built before WWII. The annual grand festival of the shrine is held in mid-May.
[details...]2-min walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Inaricho Station
Map
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Yanaka - Guide
Temple Town of Yanaka [谷中の寺町]
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
The Yanaka district is a temple town where more than 60 small temples concentrate. There are many temple towns in Tokyo but none of them are of this size and at the same time preserve the buildings built before WWII, though there are no large temples here and most of their buildings don't date back to the feudal times since this area was destroyed by the civil war of the Meiji Restoration. Of these temples, Zuirin-ji
and Tenno-ji
are relatively prominent.
[details...] and Tenno-ji are relatively prominent.Asakura Museum of Sculpture [朝倉彫塑館] link
Taito-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
This is a museum which converted the residence and studio of sculptor Asakura Fumio built before WWII. Attached behind the Western-style studio building are Japanese-style buildings used as his residence. Its courtyard garden is beautiful as shown in the second photo but now it's forbidden to take pictures of it.
[details...]5-min walk from JR Yamanote Line Nippori Station
Nezu Jinja Shrine [根津神社]
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
Nezu Jinja is a Shinto shrine which still maintains a set of buildings constructed in the feudal times in the middle of Tokyo. During azalea season (mid-Apr - early May), the Tsusuji Maturi is held.
[details...]5-min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyda Line Nezu Station
Kyu-Yasuda-Kusuo-tei Garden [旧安田楠雄邸庭園]
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Pref.MAP
10:30-16:00 of Wed & Sat; 500yen; Aug 10-19 & Dec 21-Jan 6 also closed
Kyu-Yasuda-Kusuo-tei Garden is a house museum using a traditional-style residence constructed in 1923.
[details...]7-min walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Sendagi Station
Map
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