Enjoy Asakusa even on a rainy day. 10 spots to enjoy eating out and going on dates without getting wet

[Experience] Original Food Sample Shop Kappabashi Store

Make a food replica under the guidance of a craftsman

Kappabashi Kitchen Street, located in Nishi-Asakusa, is a mecca for kitchen tools. This shopping street has an arcade so you can enjoy it even in the rain, but one place that is particularly popular is the Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Kappabashi Store, where you can experience something unique.

The regular event here is making food samples of "Tempura and Lettuce." One session lasts 40 minutes and costs 2,500 yen (tax included) per person, and you can experience the traditional method of making samples using wax. The process of the wax changing from liquid to solid not only gives you the fun of making things, but also surprises and moves you. Staff will demonstrate and provide guidance, so even beginners can feel at ease.

The store also sells a variety of food samples and unique products made using the techniques, making it a great place to shop. Reservations are required for the production experience, so please call the store first.

Original Food Sample Shop Kappabashi Branch

[Experience] Tile-breaking Kawarana

Even women can break an average of five tiles! Breaking tiles is a great way to relieve stress

Tile breaking is known in karate performances. You can experience this as an activity at "Tile Breaking Kawarana." At first glance, it may seem like you need a lot of training to break tiles, but it's actually not that difficult. As a rough guide, women tend to break five tiles on average, while men break ten.

The reason they are easy to break is because they are originally "noshi tiles" that are split in two before use. By applying the necessary force in the right place, they can be broken more easily than you might imagine. The sense of exhilaration that comes with the impact is so great that once you experience it, you'll be hooked. The "5 tile breaking challenge" is the most popular among both men and women, and costs 2,000 yen (tax included). There are also several other plans available depending on the number of tiles you want to break.

It may get crowded depending on the time, but the appeal is that no reservation is required. It's a unique experience that can help relieve stress and become a topic of conversation on social media. It's a great way to commemorate your trip or make some great memories.

Tile Breaker Kawarana

[Experience] Asakusa Engei Hall

A comedy hall where you can enjoy rakugo, manzai and other comedy 365 days a year

Asakusa has a history as an entertainment town. One of the facilities that continues to convey that tradition is the Asakusa Engei Hall. This is one of Tokyo's "regular rakugo venues," along with Ueno's Suzumoto Engeijo, Shinjuku Suehirotei, and Ikebukuro Engeijo. It is also famous as a yose (a comedy hall) where you can enjoy rakugo at any time, 365 days a year.

Since it opened in 1964, the Rakugo Association and the Rakugo Art Association have alternated performances every 10 days. In addition to rakugo, the theater offers a wide variety of entertainment, including manzai (comic comedy), stand-up comedy, comedy sketches, magic, paper cutting, acrobatics, and impersonations.

Admission fees for regular performances are 3,000 yen (tax included) for adults. As a rule, there is no change between the daytime and evening performances, and there are discounts for evening and student tickets. You can enjoy yourself to the fullest without worrying about the weather or time. This hall of fame for comedy has produced many big stars, and it's definitely worth a visit at least once.

Asakusa Engei Hall

[Experience] Asakusa Candy Crafts Ameshin Hanakawado Store

Try your hand at traditional candy crafts

Amezaiku is a traditional Japanese craft. Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin is a store run by a group of candy craftsmen who aim to preserve and develop this tradition.

Inside the store, you'll find a wide variety of candy, mainly artistic creations, such as the refreshing "uchiwa candy" and realistic, dynamic candy sculptures of goldfish and cats. Just shopping is fun, but we recommend trying out the candy craft experience class. The experience takes 90 to 120 minutes and costs 3,100 yen (tax included) for adults.

The experience class begins with an explanation of how to make the candy and things to be careful about, then you watch a demonstration by a craftsman and make it yourself. You will try your hand at making a rabbit, a motif that embodies the basics of candy craft. This process requires dexterity, as the candy, which has been heated to about 90 degrees, is removed from the pot and shaped with scissors and your fingertips before it cools and hardens. However, since it is not a one-shot deal as you will be practicing before the real thing, even first-timers may be able to create a decent shape.

Experience classes require a reservation, so please check the official website. How about a special experience in Asakusa on a rainy day?

Asakusa Candy Crafts Ameshin Hanakawado Store

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[Gourmet] Kaminarimon Sanjo

Japan's oldest tempura restaurant, located right next to Kaminarimon Gate

Asakusa, which flourished as one of Edo's leading entertainment districts, is also home to many traditional Tokyo delicacies. One of these is tempura, and the famous "Kaminarimon Sansada" is said to be the oldest tempura specialty restaurant in Japan. It was founded in 1837 (Tenpo 8) during the Edo period. It is easily accessible, just a one-minute walk from "Asakusa Station" on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, making it easy to get to even on rainy days.

Edomae tempura is traditionally made by deep-frying seafood in sesame oil. It has a fragrant flavor and pairs perfectly with the restaurant's sauce, which is made fresh every day. The menu includes set meals and assorted dishes, but the standard is the tendon. The most popular dish is the "Jo Tendon" (2,150 yen, tax included), which is topped with a small tempura, shrimp, and white fish. The lack of vegetables in tendon is also a vestige of the Edomae style. This is because vegetable tempura was called "shojin-age" at the time and was not considered tempura until the Meiji era.

The mellow, moderately sweet sauce brings out the aroma of sesame oil and goes well with tempura and rice. The seafood is also delicious, with a rich elasticity that makes the most of the quality of the ingredients. Please try this taste, which has been around for over 180 years since the Edo period.

Kaminarimon Sanjo

[Gourmet] Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Store

Large, crispy and fluffy. A one-of-a-kind melon bread

One of the best parts of sightseeing in Asakusa is walking around with one-handed gourmet food. One of the must-try items is the "Jumbo Melon Bread" from "Asakusa Kagetsudo." There are five stores around the station, including the main store, so they are also easily accessible.

It's big and photogenic, but its greatest appeal is its taste. In particular, the crispy outside and fluffy inside texture creates a delicious taste like no other. The secret lies in the fermentation; while regular bread is fermented for 40 to 60 minutes, this "Jumbo Melon Bread" is fermented for about three times that. The mixture is also changed according to the temperature, humidity, and condition of the wheat on that day, so the bread tastes the same every day.

The specialty "Jumbo Melon Bread" is 220 yen (tax included) per piece. There are sets and other breads available, and you can enjoy sweets such as shaved ice and anmitsu. It's a great place to take a break, as well as enjoy some snacks while walking around.

Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Store

[Gourmet] Yoshikami

Their specialty is their thick and creamy beef stew.

Asakusa is dotted with many famous Western restaurants, and Yoshikami is especially famous for its beef stew. From the outside, it looks like a long-established Western restaurant, and was founded in 1951. When you head towards the restaurant's facade, which reads "It's Too Delicious to Be Sorry!", your heart will dance with the rich aroma wafting from the open kitchen.

Their specialty "Beef Stew" is 2,600 yen (tax included). The secret to its deliciousness is the large, yet tenderly stewed beef and demi-glace sauce, but the "Hayashi Rice" (1,350 yen, tax included) made with that sauce is also excellent. They also offer a variety of cuts of beef, including the "Western-style steak" "Beef fillet steak (200g)" (5,400 yen, tax included), so you can enjoy a feast to your heart's content.

There is a wide selection of hors d'oeuvres available, including Western staples such as "Omurice" (1,350 yen, tax included) and "Pork Cutlet Sandwich" (1,200 yen, tax included), as well as "Prosciutto" (1,450 yen, tax included) and "Scallop Carpaccio" (800 yen, tax included).

The shop is located right next to the arcade, so you can get around without getting wet even when it's raining. It's also a great shop that is open without a break.

Yoshikami

[Gourmet] R Restaurant & Bar

A luxurious hotel restaurant with a view of Tokyo Skytree

Located near Asakusa Station, "The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by HULIC" is popular for its stylish design. "R Restaurant & Bar" is located on the 13th floor. You can enjoy a luxurious dinner in a romantic atmosphere, with a view of the Asakusa cityscape as well as Tokyo Skytree.

In addition to counter and table seating, there is also open-air terrace seating, which can be used according to the occasion. The cuisine is based on French cuisine, and you can enjoy dishes such as appetizers such as "Charcuterie" (1,980 yen, tax included), main dishes such as "Beer Braised Beef Belly" (2,530 yen, tax included), as well as meals and sweets that can only be enjoyed here, such as "GATE HOTEL" Curry (1,760 yen, tax included) and "Affogato with Kaminari Okoshi" (820 yen, tax included).

Even on rainy days, you want to enjoy a moment that is out of the ordinary. On days when you are unsure whether to go up to the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree due to bad weather, you can enjoy the view of Tokyo Skytree from a luxurious space. This change in perspective is the key.

R Restaurant & Bar

[Souvenir] Yagenbori Shichimi Togarashi Honpo Shin-Nakamise Main Store

You can mix it to your liking. Experience the greatness of Japan's three major shichimi

Along with "Hachiman-ya Isogorou" at Zenkoji Temple in Nagano and "Shichimiya Honpo" on the approach to Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, "Yagenbori Shichimi Togarashi Honpo" in Asakusa is counted among the "Three Great Shichimi Togarashi in Japan." It was founded in 1625 (Kan'ei 2) during the Edo period. It was favored by the Shogun of the time, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and became a tribute to the shogunate, and the store's logo includes the title "Yamatoku" (Toku).

The base condiments for shichimi pepper are displayed in front of the store, and they will mix it according to your preferred taste and spiciness. It is also recommended as a spot where you can experience the profound depth of shichimi pepper.

The containers for the chili peppers are available in a wide variety of shapes, including wooden gourd-shaped containers, inro-shaped containers, bamboo tube-shaped containers, and cans. There are also other types of furikake, ochazuke, and tsukudani, so you're sure to find a souvenir that will please your guests. On rainy days, it's a good idea to take your time choosing souvenirs.

Yagenbori Shichimi Togarashi Honpo Shin Nakamise Main Store

[Souvenir] Marugoto Nippon

A large collection of rare local products and crafts from all over Japan

Marugoto Nippon is a place where you can encounter things and experiences, concentrating on the diverse cultures that have been passed down throughout Japan. The building is spread across four floors, from the 1st to the 4th floor. Each floor offers products and services that match its own theme, such as the Japanese Food Market, Everyday Tools Street, Experience Plaza, and Hometown Dining Street. There is so much to choose from, so even if you decide to spend a rainy day relaxing here, you'll be happy.

If you're looking for delicious souvenirs, we recommend "Kura" in the "Nippon Food Market." Specialist buyers have gathered a wide range of local specialties, including agricultural products, confectionery, alcohol and seasonings, livestock products, dairy products, and processed marine products.

The total number of items is an overwhelming 2,500. Some of them are rare and have limited distribution, and some are only available here in Tokyo. There are many local food specialties that are fun to look at. Experiencing "Cool Japan" in Asakusa is also a fun experience.

The whole of Japan

*Some content was updated on August 5, 2022.

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