Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

T OK Y O AREA B Y AREA  81

NORTHERN TOKYO

The northern districts of Ueno and Asakusa around the bustling Senso-ji Temple, its
contain what remains of Tokyo’s old main approach packed with shops. Ueno is
Shitamachi (low city). Once the heart and dominated by its huge park containing the
soul of culture in Edo (see p61), Shitamachi National and Shitamachi Museums, among
became the subject of countless ukiyo-e others. It is still possible to find pockets of
woodblock prints (see p89). Merchants and narrow streets lined with tightly packed
artisans thrived here, as did Kabuki theater homes, especially in the Yanaka area, which
(see p41) and the Yoshiwara pleasure district escaped destruction by war and earthquake.
near Asakusa. One of the last great battles Shopping is a pleasure in Northern Tokyo: as
in Japan took place in Ueno in 1868 when well as the traditional arts and crafts shops
the Emperor Meiji’s forces defeated the near Senso-ji Temple, there are specialists
Tokugawa shogunate. Ueno and Asakusa are in plastic food in Kappabashi-dori, religious
the best parts of Tokyo for just strolling and goods in neighboring Inaricho, and a wide
observing. Life in Asakusa still revolves variety of goods at Ameyoko Market.

Sights at a Glance
Temples Notable Districts Markets
8 Senso-ji Temple pp90–91 4 Yanaka District 5 Ameyoko Market
Parks and Gardens 6 Inaricho District and Other Sites
Kappabashi-dori
1 Ueno Park pp82–3 7 Tokyo SkyTree
Museums
2 Tokyo National Museum pp84–7
3 Shitamachi Museum See also Street Finder
maps 3 & 4
Nippori
S H I N O B A Z U - D O R I Sendagi CEMETERY 0 meters 500

YANAKA
YANAKA
0 yards 500
Uguisudani
K O T O T O I - D O R I
NEZU
Nezu K O T O T O I - D O R I
UENO E X P R E S S W AY N O . 1
ZOO MATSUGAYA
UENO NISHI-
PARK ASAKUSA
Asakusa
(Tsukuba
Ueno KAPPA BASHI -DO R I Express line)
Keisei- ASAKUSA NAKAMISE- DORI
Shinobazu Ueno Inaricho INARICHO
Pond KAMINARIMON-DORI
T AITO-KU A S A K U S A - D O R I Tawaramachi Asakusa
S H I N O B A Z U - D O R I
MOTO- 1.5 km
UENO Ueno- ASAKUSA
Okachimachi K A S U G A - D O R I O K U S A I - D O R I
Uenohirokoji Okachimachi Shin- KOTOBUKI
Yushima Okachimachi
Naka E D O - D O R I
Okachimachi K S u m i d a R i v e r
S H O K E I B A S H I - D O R I C H U O - D O R I TAITO MISUJI Kuramae
KOJIMA

KURAMAE
K U R A M A E B A S H I - D O R I
Red lanterns and cherry blossoms in Ueno Park For keys to symbols see back flap

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