Nostalgic yet fresh! Return to your childhood at Showa and Heisei retro spots in Tokyo

So in this article, we'll be taking you on a retro trip to Tokyo, visiting places that will give you a taste of Showa and Heisei, so that you can experience the retro atmosphere even while traveling. It's also a great way to reminisce about your past and the pure excitement you felt.

A retro trip where you can reminisce about memories and make new discoveries

We will introduce you to some unique spots that will bring back childhood memories across generations, as well as nostalgic spots for the Showa and Heisei generations and trendy spots that will seem fresh to Gen Z.

Unique and thrilling attractions at Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan's oldest amusement park

Asakusa Hanayashiki is known as Japan's oldest amusement park, having opened in 1853. Located right next to Sensoji Temple, the park has a retro atmosphere and its highlight is the oldest roller coaster still in existence in Japan, which opened in 1953.

The maximum speed is a slow 42km/h, but there is also a unique feature on the course where it crashes into residential houses and passes through "living rooms"! The aircraft has a unique design that reproduces the cutting edge rocket style design of the time.

Asakusa Hanayashiki is dotted with retro photogenic spots, including the popular "Panda Car." Enjoy the attractions and take photos while immersing yourself in the nostalgic atmosphere.

Asakusa Hanayashiki

Experience Japanese technology that's garnering worldwide attention at the cute and retro "Original Food Sample Shop"!

Food samples are often seen in the show windows of coffee shops. Some people find themselves stopping to look at them as they walk by. The Kappabashi branch of "Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya," a long-established food sample manufacturer that was founded 93 years ago, is a 10-minute walk from Asakusa Hanayashiki. Here you can experience making your own food samples.

Food samples are a technology that originated in Japan and has been popular for many years.

This workshop allows you to make lifelike food samples such as tempura and lettuce using traditional techniques using wax. Even beginners can have fun trying it out, and it is very popular with tourists from Japan and overseas!

The store is also filled with cute items that are easy to use on a daily basis, such as key chains and magnets made from food samples. You might even find something to brighten up your daily life, from your favorite sweets to unique food samples.

Original Food Sample Shop Kappabashi Branch

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Ueno is a city filled with deep history and culture. It is easily accessible and attracts tourists from all over the world. When it comes to gourmet spots in Ueno, there is Ameyoko, which started as a black market after the war. We will introduce a wide variety of international gourmet foods, from the standard to the unusual.

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"Heisei Retro Cafe RETOPO" brings together all the "nostalgic" things from those days, such as flip phones and decorative items!

After touring the Showa retro, head to a spot to enjoy the Heisei era and get a feel for the Y2K trend! The Heisei Retro Cafe RETOPO Shibuya, which opened in Shibuya in 2024, is a gathering of nostalgic items that represent the Heisei era! Based on the concept of a "Heisei girl's room," there are a variety of goods that will bring back memories of those times, such as flip phones and stationery that was popular at the time.

Meanwhile, digital cameras are popular among Generation Z. Photos taken with digital cameras "decorated" with glittering rhinestones are said to be "emotional" and have a nostalgic feel, which has become a hot topic.

While enjoying retro sweets and drinks, listen to nostalgic songs from the Heisei era on your Walkman or iPod, write in your profile book, and feel like you've traveled back in time to the 2000s! Enjoy a pop moment that brings together a sense of nostalgia and newness.

Heisei Retro Cafe RETOPO

"House of Joah" where you can make cute key rings with Heisei motifs and Korean trends

The Heisei-era movement is actually popular in Korea too! At "house of joah" in Shin-Okubo, making "kumigi" with a modern twist is very popular.

"Kumigi" means "decoration" and is a Korean trend that specifically refers to key rings and decorations made by freely combining beads and charms. It has a nostalgic feel like the bead accessories that were popular in Japan in the 2000s, and has recently been attracting attention as K-POP idols incorporate it into their styling.

The store is filled with colorful beads and unique charms. By combining your favorite parts, you can create a one-of-a-kind key ring. The original accessories, which combine a retro Heisei-era atmosphere with modernity, are sure to make your heart flutter!

House of Joah

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A map of Korean food in Shin-Okubo. Introducing 14 restaurants, from the latest sweets to long-established famous restaurants.

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"KODOMO NO SHITEN CAFE" is a unique cafe where you can experience things from a child's perspective

After reminiscing about the trends of your childhood, we will introduce you to some spots where you can actually relive what it was like from a child's perspective.

The "KODOMO NO SHITEN CAFE (Cooperation: © Kodomo no Shiten Lab)" located next to the "ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO KIDS PARK," an SDGs facility for children, is a cafe where, as its name suggests, you can feel like a child and have a variety of experiences.

The theme of the event is "How big are the food and drinks when adults become children?" and you can enjoy large-sized drinks and cakes.

In addition, you will be able to experience some of the exhibits that were well-received at the past experiential exhibition "KODOMO NO SHITEN Exhibition," such as "Breakfast for a 2-Year-Old," where everything is twice the size, and "4-Meter Adults," which expresses the size of adults from a child's perspective.

This unique experience, which lets you feel as if you were a small child, has become a hot topic on social media. By experiencing something different from the usual, you may be able to understand the perspective of others. Why not visit with your family or friends and experience the world from a different perspective than your everyday life?

ITOCHU SDGs STUDIO KODOMO NO SHITEN CAFE (Cooperation: © Kodomo no Shiten Lab)

The Kiki's Museum of Literature: A fairy-tale-like world that will tickle your fancy

Finally, we will introduce a spot where you can return to your childhood and spend some time relaxing. This is the "Magical Literature Museum," where Eiko Kadono, the original author of "Kiki's Delivery Service," serves as the director. As soon as you step inside, you will find yourself in a strawberry-colored world reminiscent of the town of Koriko, the setting of "Kiki's Delivery Service."

Inside the building, there is a library where books have been selected by Kadono herself, with the hope that "people will choose their own books and read them all the way through," as well as a gallery, theater, cafe, and other places where you can spend your time at your leisure.

There are a variety of picture books and other children's books from around the world on display, and not only children but adults too will be captivated by their books.

Designed by Kengo Kuma, the all-white exterior is impressive. This is a recommended spot for architecture lovers, where you can enjoy a modern atmosphere and a fantastical worldview all at once.

When you pick up a picture book that catches your eye, it will likely bring back memories of your childhood when you were engrossed in reading picture books.

Kiki's Museum of Literature (Edogawa Ward Eiko Kadono Children's Literature Museum)

A rewarding retro trip filled with nostalgia and new discoveries

Enjoy Showa retro and Heisei era fads, the newly popular Y2K trend activities, and make new discoveries through experiences that remind you of your childhood. There are spots that can be enjoyed not only with friends but across generations, so you're sure to make new discoveries even if you go with your family!

Why not refresh your mood by remembering the excitement and thrills you felt as a child?

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