Day 7 - Tsukiji Market & Asakusa
Tsukiji Market
Nakamise Shopping Street
Senso-Ji Temple
Tokyo Skytree
Tsukiji Fish Market
A top attraction in Tokyo! The Tsukiji Fish Market got its start with the famous 5am fish auction, and many shops and food stands were set up around it. While the fish auction has moved to another location, this area remains a top attraction with numerous food stand stalls that are as lively as ever.
There are tamago (Japanese egg omelet), meat skewers, giant shumai, strawberry mochi, wagyu beef skewer, sashimi, raw oysters, ice cream and many more choices. This is street food heaven! The catch — It’s super crowded here, and some lines get really long.
Voyagers Tips: As is with most areas in Tokyo, there are no trash cans. Some shops have limited trash cans for their own customers and their own trash only. Here’s a tip - You can usually give trash back to a shop owner after you buy and eat their food, just ask them nicely. They’ll even take back a bit more of your other trash after you’ve bought food from them. Or bring a few trash bags with you and wait until you see a real trash bag, which is a general good practice in Tokyo.
Another tip: In general, it is considered rude to eat while walking in Japan. You can stand in one spot and eat, just don’t eat while walking. This is one of the exception areas — Given that the whole area is about street food, it is acceptable to eat and walk if you choose, just be cognizant of the people around you.
Nakamise Shopping Street
Nakamise street is the path leading to Sensoji-Temple so it’s two stops for the price of one! This is another busy street with lots of shops and some food stalls. A popular place to buy souvenirs for sure, although you may pay a bit of price premium given the popularity of this location.
Sensoji Temple
Sensjoi Temple is Tokyo’s oldest temple. Drawing a fortune is a fun activity for tourists here — Donate a coin, shake the metal box, pull out a stick with a number on it, and pull the fortune out from the drawer corresponding to the number. Here’s the interesting part — If you get a bad fortune you don’t like, fold it up and tie it to the nearby rack to have the gods get rid of the bad luck for you. Pretty neat!
Tourists can also do their prayers here. Drop some coins, make a wish, clap twice, make a bow, and your wish is complete!
The grounds around the temple are quite picturesque for a nice stroll. Afterwards, turn left (when coming from Nakamise) to exit the temple ground and you’ll see some interesting shopping streets that are less crowded and probably better places than Nakamise to buy souvenirs.
Tokyo Skytreee
The Skytree is part of a mall with a nice outdoor walking area around it as well as shopping floors, a food cour floor, and a floor with a supermarket. You can actually buy food to go from the supermarket and enjoy them on the food court dining area on the floor above it. When you’re done, enjoy the outdoor walking area. The walking path connects you to Tokyo Solamachi, which is another high-rise mall.
But you didn’t come here for the malls, you came here for the view! Follow signs to the observation deck ticketing area. You can buy tickets to the 350m deck, or the 450m galleria, or a combo ticket for both. We opted for both and were glad we did. The 350m viewing deck is more spacious and has more people. You can spot all the major Tokyo landmarks from here, including the nearby Sensoji temple. Find your way down to the lower level to check out the glass floor section if you don’t have fear of height.
Once you’re done checking out the 350m level, take the next elevator up to 450m. The view isn’t substantially different but it’s less crowded and a bit more relaxing.
If you have time, check out the malls, enjoy the food courts, and have a nice stroll on the outdoor walking deck. It’s a great way to spend a few hours.