If you’re planning a family trip to Tokyo, Asakusa deserves a place near the top of your itinerary. It’s also one of our favourite places to stay in the city, thanks to its convenient location and easy transport links. Thinking of visiting Asakusa with kids? I’m going to break down why that’s a great idea!

Most people know Asakusa as home to the iconic Senso-ji Temple. But you’ll also find colourful shopping streets, the Asakusa Sumo Show, and our favourite burger restaurant not just in Japan, but in the world. Asakusa perfectly blends traditional Japan with plenty to keep children entertained. Including animal cafes, buildings that will attract their attention!

I’m not going to pretend that Asakusa isn’t busy: it certainly is! But it’s also easy to explore on foot, making it an excellent choice for families travelling with younger children.

Here’s everything you need to know before you visit Asakusa with kids:

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Why Visit Asakusa with Kids?

Asakusa offers a completely different side of Tokyo. Instead of neon lights and skyscrapers, you’ll find:

• Japan’s oldest temple
• Traditional shopping streets
• Street food stalls
• River views
• Rickshaws
• Family attractions
• Easy access to Tokyo Skytree

What you will still find is crowds, particularly around the Senso-ji Temple. But despite this, Asakusa has a relaxed, laid-back, authentic feel that means we love spending time here as a family.

Best things to do in Asakusa with kids

1. Visit Senso-ji Temple

No visit to Asakusa is complete without exploring Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temple. The Senso-ji temple and is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion and was first constructed in 645 AD. 30 million people visit Senso-ji every year, so when I say this site is BUSY I really mean it!

We’ve visited the Senso-ji Temple three times now. Once around lunch time, once in the early morning, and once at dusk. In my experience, the earlier or later you can visit, the quieter and easier the experience will be.

The only con of visiting during these times is that the Nakamise shopping street that leads to the temple might well be closed. This street does add the bustling atmosphere of the temple, but the majority of the shops are only open from 10.00am – 5.00pm. You might find that some shops open a little earlier at 9.00am and close later at 8.00pm, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

So why should you visit the Senso-ji temple? Firstly, because it’s the most iconic and photogenic temple in the city: if you only visit one temple in Japan, it should be this one. Our boys loved walking beneath the enormous Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) lantern before making their way towards the temple through the bustling Nakamise shopping street.

Don’t miss:

• Burning incense for good luck
• Drawing an omikuji fortune
• The beautiful five-storey pagoda
• The impressive main hall

2. Explore Nakamise Shopping Street

If you don’t mind crowds, and you’re visiting Asakusa between 10.00am and 5.00pm then the Nakamise Shopping Street is well worth visiting, expecially if it’s your first trip to Tokyo. Stretching from Kaminarimon Gate to Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street is a long straight street with an almost market-type feel.

It’s packed with traditional Japanese snacks and souvenirs, but it’s also packed with people. Many people would describe this street as ‘touristy’ and given the Temple welcomes 30 million visitors a year that makes perfect sense: it’s aimed at tourists! But it’s still a fun place to shop, and over our visits we’ve brought:

• Black vanilla ice cream cones, taiyaki and fresh strawberry skewers
• Beautiful chopsticks to take home for family and friends
• Character souvenirs, because our kids just can’t resist them!

3. Watch a Family-Friendly Sumo Show

One of the best things we’ve done in Asakusa, perhaps even in Tokyo, is visiting the Asakusa Sumo Club.

Unlike attending a professional tournament, the show is designed specifically for visitors and is ideal for families. We learnt so much, but we also had so much fun!

You’ll learn about the traditions of sumo wrestling before watching real wrestlers compete in the ring, all while you eat a traditional meal of chanko hot pot. The food is all inclusive: if you want more of anything you just order it for free via the app, so we all left with full tummies.

And our youngest was even invited into the ring to fight a former professional sumo at the end of the show! He has been talking about the day he beat a sumo constantly since we got home!

We loved the Asakusa sumo club experience so much that we’ve written a full review here:
Read our complete Asakusa Sumo Club review

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It’s essential to book the Asakusa Sumo Club in advance, as this is an incredibly popular attraction. 👉 Check availability for your preferred dates and book with Klook here
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4. Walk along the Sumida River

After exploring the busy temple area, the nearby riverfront provides a peaceful place to relax. It also tends to be much quieter than the area surrounding the Senso-ji Temple, so if you’re kids need space to run around and let off steam, or you want somewhere to sit down and soak it all in, this is the place to come.

You’ll enjoy fantastic views towards Tokyo Skytree, and you can also enjoy views of what the boys call the “poo building”. This is the Asahi Super Dry Hall, a beer hall where you can stop in for a drink. But kids love this building because of the Asahi Flame (Flamme d’Or) that sits on top of it. This was built to represent the “burning heart of Asahi beer” but it actually looks like a golden poop.

Amongst locals it has the humorous nickname “Golden Turd” (kin no unko). If your kids (like mine!) enjoy a little toilet humour, it’s worth looking for this building in the skyline.

This area along the Sumida River is particularly beautiful in spring during cherry blossom season.

5. Take a Tokyo River Cruise

If you fancy seeing Tokyo from a new perspective then Asakusa is a great starting point to take a Tokyo river cruise. Several sightseeing cruises depart from Asakusa, travelling along the Sumida River towards areas including Odaiba and Hamarikyu Gardens.

We’ve stood on the side of the river watching the boats go past and, for families, this looks like such a fun way to see Tokyo from a different perspective while giving tired legs a rest.

6. Visit Tokyo Skytree

Although technically located just across the river, the Tokyo Skytree is only around a 20-minute walk from central Asakusa. We’ve visited the Senso-ji temple and Nakamise Shopping Street before walking for a laid back afternoon of exploring the Tokyo Skytree and its surrounding shopping center, called Tokyo Skytree Town, and this worked perfectly.

Obviously the main attraction of this area is the change to go right up to the top of the Tokyo Skytree and see the most incredible city views. But you can also enjoy:

• Shopping
• Restaurants
• The Pokémon Center
• Character stores

You can read our full review of going to the very top of the Tokyo Skytree here:
Tokyo Skytree Tickets: Is It Worth It With Kids And How To Book (2026 Guide)

QUICK BOOKING BOX:
I recommend booking your Skytree tickets at least a couple of days in advance. On our first trip, we tried to turn up on the day on a whim, but there was no remaining availability.
👉 You can check availability for the Tokyo Skytree and book your tickets here
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7. Ride a Traditional Rickshaw

One of the first things you’ll notice when you get off the metro in Asakusa and start walking around is the abundance of traditional rickshaws everywhere. Our boys loved spotting the rickshaws travelling around Asakusa, with the rickshaw operators in traditional dress.

Taking a rickshaw ride is such a fun and unique way to explore Asakusa, and the drivers can take you all the way up to the entrance of the Senso-ji temple, which is a very cool way to avoid walking through the crowds!

On our first visit I was reluctant to ride a rickshaw, because I don’t like negotiating with vendors on the street. I didn’t know if a ride would be too expensive, or at least if it would be in our budget. Now I know that you can actually prebook the Asakusa rickshaw experience in advance with Klook, and we have this on our bucket list for our next Tokyo trip.

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👉 Check prices and book your Asakusa rickshaw experience in advance here
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8. Visit Kappabashi Kitchen Street

Just a short walk from the temple is Tokyo’s famous kitchen district. This is where all of the best chefs and restaurants across the city come to kit out their kitchens.

Older children often enjoy looking at the incredibly realistic plastic food displays, while adults will love browsing Japanese knives, ceramics and cooking equipment. I appreciate it’s a little niche, but this is a unique attraction that’s well worth exploring if you have a little time in your schedule.

9. Eat The Best Burger in Japan

It’s not hyperbole when I saw that we’ve found the best burger in Japan, and it’s right in the heart of Asakusa. We stumbled across The Wagyu Brothers when we were looking fast and easy to feed the boys on our first trip to Asakusa, and now we go back every time we visit!

The restaurant is tiny on the inside and you can see the chefs at work in the kitchen. The smell is insane, and it fills the whole room. What really sets the Wagyu Brothers apart is the quality of the ingredients they use. They use A5-grade Wagyu beef in their burgers, and you can have Wagyu steaks chopped on top of your burger if you’re feeling particularly indulgent.

If you fancy a burger, then I promise you that this is the place to go! The full address of the restaurant is on the second floor of the Endo Building in Asakusa, Tokyo. It’s quite hard to find, because you’ll need to go up a narrow staircase to get to the restaurant that isn’t very well signposted, but it’s worth hunting for!

10. Shop for Vintage Kimono

Asakusa is well-known for its number of vintage kimono stores, and I loved exploring these. Some of these second-hand kimonos can run into hundreds of pounds, but you’ll also find stores selling kimono for as little as 1,100 yen (which is the equivalent of around £5 each).

I got a beautiful, washable kimono for this price and its one of my favourite souvenirs of the many we’ve brought back from Japan across all our trips. It’s also one of the most practical: I use my kimono as a dressing gown or bath robe, which means I wear it all the time!

Asakusa Family Travel Tips

• My biggest tip if you want to see the Senso-ji temple (and I recommend you do) is to visit early or later in the day (at dusk or even at night) to avoid the worst of the crowds.
  
• Wear comfortable shoes. Asakusa is a wonderfully walkable part of the city and if you want to explore it all or cross over the river to see the Tokyo Skytree, you’ll be walking a lot.
  
• Carry some cash for smaller food stalls. Tokyo was always a cash-driven city, but card use is so much more prevalent than it’s every been before. The only real exception is many of the smaller food stalls around temples and shrines.
  
• Allow at least half a day to explore Asakusa properly. Many people rush in the see the Senso-ji temple and the rush out again, but that would be such a grave mistake. As lovely as the temple is, Asakusa has so much more to see and do.
  
• Travelling with kids that seem to say ‘I need a wee’ at least every 15 minutes? Hoping its not just me! If so, you won’t have to worry here. Public toilets are easy to find around the temple grounds.

How to get to Asakusa

Now your itinerary is packed-full of things to do in the area, you’re going to want to know how to get to Asakusa. The good news is that Asakusa is well connected by Tokyo’s rail network. That’s also a great reasons why Asakusa is a good place to stay if you’re looking for somewhere convenient and family-friendly.

You can easily get to Asakusa from other popular tourist haunts like Tokyo Station, Ueno, Shinkjuku, Shibuya, and Ginza.

The nearest stations are:

• Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
• Asakusa Station (Toei Asakusa Line)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Asakusa worth visiting with kids?

In my opinion, Asakusa is absolutely worth visiting with kids. It’s one of Tokyo’s easiest neighbourhoods to explore as a family and offers a fantastic introduction to traditional Japanese culture. You can explore it almost exclusively on foot, and although the area around the main temple is crowded, so much of Asakusa is calm and perfect for families to explore.

How long should you spend in Asakusa?

Around 4–6 hours is ideal, or a full day if you’re also visiting Tokyo Skytree. We spent around 5 hours in the heart of Asakusa itself, including the 2 hours we spent at the Asakusa Sumo Club. Then we headed over to the Skytree for incredible views, and the boys were so excited to see Asakusa from so high up!

Is Asakusa stroller friendly?

Mostly yes, you can navigate Asakusa with a stoller. The main streets are flat and easy to navigate, although Nakamise Street can become very busy during peak times. If you want to go down Nakamise Street and around the Senso-ji Temple during the peak of the day, consider a sling or baby carrier instead.

Is Asakusa free?

Most of the main attractions, including Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, are completely free to visit. Obviously there are plenty of paid-for attractions in Asakusa too, such as the interactive experiences, the Sumo Club, and the Skytree. If you want to visit these spots, I recommend booking them in advance.

Final Thoughts and Further Reading

If you’re only visiting Tokyo once, Asakusa should absolutely be on your itinerary.

Between the incredible temple, traditional shopping streets, delicious food and unforgettable sumo experience, it offers some of the best family sightseeing in the city, and remains one of our favourite areas to explore whenever we return to Japan.

Looking for more guides to planning your Tokyo trip? Check out some of our other guides and reviews:

The Ultimate Japan Itinerary 14-Day for First-Time Visitors
 Visiting Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea: Which is Best For Kids?
Summer in Tokyo: Family-Friendly Activities For Keeping Cool

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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!