Downtown charm and century-old businesses
Ueno (上野), Asakusa (浅草) and Ningyocho (人形町) are older, Edo-era areas of the city. Perhaps one of the most photographed scenes in Tokyo, the big red lantern under the Kaminarimon (雷門, “thunder gate”) in Asakusa is the start of a long walkway down to Sensoji temple (浅草寺), both sides lined with small shops selling souvenirs, handmade sweets and snacks. Ueno is the site of Tokyo’s proud zoo with animals from around the globe, and Ningyocho is full of old Japanese charm (and traditional delicacies) and is a perfect place to splurge on a nice lunch or dinner, pick up a few souvenirs or get a few great photos ops.