1 Day in Asakusa: Best Matcha, Street Food, Sensoji & Retro Diner in Old Tokyo

1 Day in Asakusa: Best Matcha, Street Food, Sensoji & Retro Diner in Old Tokyo

We spent the day in Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most visited neighborhoods. We started at Nakamise Dori, a busy stretch filled with street food stalls, souvenir shops, and specialty stores. This path leads straight to Sensoji Temple, the heart of Asakusa. All around, people in kimonos, tourists, and locals move through the street, taking in something that’s been part of this city for centuries. We headed up to Asakusa Yokocho, and had grilled eel that felt like a real hidden find. Then we stopped by Suzukien, a small shop known for serving one of the deepest, richest matcha gelatos in Tokyo. As the day slowed down, we walked along the Sumida River, where cherry blossoms were in bloom and Tokyo Skytree stood quietly in the background. We ended the day at Asakusa Yoshikami, a retro diner that’s been serving comfort food for years. So stay and spend the day with us. We’re taking you through the sights, food, and streets of Asakusa. Nakamise Dori is one of the oldest shopping streets in Tokyo. It dates back to the early Edo period. It stretches for about 250 meters, connecting to the main gate of the Sensoji Temple. The street is lined with nearly a hundred small shops selling everything from traditional snacks, souvenirs, paper crafts and many more. The stalls may look touristy, but a lot of the items here are handmade and have been sold by the same families for generations. These are so cute! 🥹 This is Nakamise Dori on a normal day: busy, lively and full of visitors. Let’s go check out some of the shops! This is an incredibly popular spot here in Nakamise Dori. Most people visit here for their 365 lip balm. Monkado turns simple lip balms into personal keepsakes, with designs that correspond to specific months and dates — which makes it perfect for gifting or as your own unique souvenir. I think it’s a very clever product concept! Let’s see some of the designs. The packaging of these face masks are so pretty. I couldn’t resist! 🤭 A few steps away from the Monkado stall is Yoroshi Cosmetics. Their 365 line with the same concept includes hand creams. It’s super moisturizing and the scent is so nice. I’m picking up a few. These perfume balms are also interesting. All set “for now”. Let’s pretend I won’t buy more later. 😄 If there is a daifuku shop, expect that Binoy is already there. They’re soft and chewy, and the strawberries are fresh, plump and sweet. We also ordered the soft serve ice cream and the flavor is amazing. It goes well with these daifuku. Ooh I really like this one, I love anything peach. I am hoping to pass by here again later, but for now, it might be a bit heavy to carry around. Let us now make our way to the Hōzōmon Gate. This is Sensoji’s Kaminarimon or “Thunder Gate”. It has a giant red lantern in the middle. It’s massive, and probably the most photographed spot in Asakusa. Millions and millions of people visit Sensoji every year, making it Japan’s most visited temple. During spring, a beautiful weeping cherry blossom tree blooms right in front of Hōzōmon Gate. You’ll often see visitors gathering to snap photos beneath its beautiful flowers. The blossoms look even more beautiful up close. With cherry blossoms in the frame, Sensoji feels even more unforgettable. Seeing people in kimonos inside the temple feels like stepping into a living postcard. Even inside the temple grounds, you’ll spot rickshaws passing through, adding a nostalgic feel to the whole place. We didn’t plan to stay this long, but it’s hard to leave when there’s so much to take in. We passed by a few groups having photos taken in their kimonos. You really start to notice the design of each one and how much care goes into wearing it. We walked further and passed through another gate. Bentendō Hall sits atop a small hill, and is just outside Sensoji. Every time you turn a corner here, there’s something else to look at. We saw a matcha shop in the area. Everything looks really good. Not stopping for matcha just yet… but we’ve got plans. Keep watching. 😉 We’re going to Asakusa Yokocho, which is on the 4th floor of the Uniqlo building. This is a food alley decorated with lantern-lit retro booths and colorful Japanese decor. It took us a while to find this specific izakaya, but we’re finally here. This is a cozy eel izakaya known for their creative unagi dishes. You can already tell from the menu: eel-focused, rich-looking, and served in big bowls. At most izakaya, you’ll get a small appetizer called otoshi. Next came the eel skewer with butter. It’s charred crispy on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth tender inside. For the main event, we ordered the Unagi Gyudon. The serving size for the beef and rice is huge. You’ll want to share this with someone. The eel was rich and perfectly seasoned, possibly the best we’ve ever had. The beef portion was generous but slightly chewy. The eel though, is really on another level. The rice portion was massive, so we ordered an extra plate of eel to balance it out. Their eel is really, really good. It’s moist, melts in your mouth, and the sauce is so flavorful. We recommend ordering their signature dish, the bigger eel with fluffy omelet. Let’s explore Asakusa Yokocho just a bit more. You’ll see plenty of photo spots here. The colorful decor ecreate the feeling of a summer matsuri. Each stall inside represents a different style of Japanese cuisine. What was that 😅 Bobi: Say something. “We’re inside the elevator.” Bobi: “Obviously.” Why exactly were we whispering? 😂 This area is known for its Don Quijote, or Donki store, where you’ll find everything from snacks and souvenirs to beauty products and travel goods. We’re heading toward Suzukien now. We’re here for some premium matcha and there’s already a crowd. “The Strongest Matcha in the World” Menus are handed out while you wait.Let’s see what matcha to get. They offer 7 levels of matcha. Level 7 is the strongest, should we try it? Suzukien’s been around since the Edo period. There’s real history behind this small matcha shop. Today, it’s known for serving one of the strongest matcha gelatos in Tokyo. I got the level 7 matcha in a cone. Look how much darker Level 7 is compared to the other one. Bobi got the gelato in a cup so she can take her time eating it, no dripping & melting mess. She ordered the level 3 matcha and loves it! It’s the perfect balance — it’s rich, creamy and milky. Look at that silky, velvety texture. So yummy! The level 7 matcha has a very rich and intense flavor. We also ordered a matcha latte and a scone. This is a very good quality matcha latte. It has like jelly bits at the bottom. The matcha scone was nice to try, but not really a highlight. They also sell chocolates and other products. They have matcha for sale if you want to take some home. You’ll also find different teas and gift sets here. We’re now heading toward the Sumida River to see the view with the cherry blossoms. Next to Skytree is the striking Asahi Beer Hall, topped by the golden “Flamme d’Or”. You’ll often see a train passing above, adding a vibe to the riverside scene. We passed through here earlier, and now it’s all lit up. Same street, new mood. Night brings out a different kind of charm. We wanted to experience a vintage diner so we went to this place. Yoshikami is a decades-old restaurant known for serving Japanese-style western dishes. Counter seating lets you watch everything being made. You’ll see the chefs in action—flames, sizzling pans, all of it right in front of you. We ordered the steak and the chef is already making it. This diner has been around since 1950’s. You can tell they’ve kept the old-school vibe, and it adds to the charm. Looks like the steak’s nearly done. We also ordered their signature dish, the beef stew. It’s a house favorite. You can see it being made right now. I have read good reviews about this beef stew on Google. The beef is very soft and tender. It’s good to try the steak, too. Another popular dish is their omurice, and it’s so satisfying to see how it is made. I didn’t expect that 😂

Join us for one spring day in Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s most iconic and culturally rich neighborhoods.
We walked through Nakamise Dori to see the street food and shops, explored the grounds of Sensoji Temple, and soaked in the energy of the crowds and visitors in traditional kimonos.We also stopped for matcha at Suzukien, known for offering some of the richest matcha gelato in the world.
At the top floor of the Uniqlo building, we found Asakusa Yokocho—a stylish food alley where we had grilled eel with beef at Izumo izakaya. we walked along the Sumida River, catching views of Tokyo Skytree and the cherry blossoms in full bloom.We ended our day with dinner at Asakusa Yoshikami, a beloved retro diner known for its Western-style Japanese dishes.
Aesthetic visuals, thoughtful stops, and a slower look at a busy side of Tokyo.

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*About Us*
Hi! We’re Bobi and Binoy, a couple from Manila who’s passionate about traveling the world and creating memories together. 🌏💕 We’ve been fortunate to have explored different parts of Europe, USA, UAE, and Asia, but we especially adore Japan!🇯🇵 Since we love to travel, we decided to start documenting our trips to preserve the happy memories we create along the way.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Preview
0:36 Intro
2:38 Nakamise Dori Food and Shopping Street
5:21 Monkado Cosmetics 365 Lip Balm
7:18 Yoroshi Cosmetics 365 Hand Cream
8:19 Ginkado Asakusa Desserts
10:19 Sensoji Temple
15:07 Asakusa Yokocho
16:05 Izumo Unagi Izakaya
20:46 Suzukien Strongest Matcha
24:02 Sumida Park
25:17 Yoshoku Yoshikami Retro Diner

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