Shops in Yanaka, Tokyo

Isetatsu: Traditional Japanese paper and stationary
Address :2-18-9 Yanaka,Taito-ku,Tokyo Phone :03 3823 1453
English site: http://www.norenkai.net/english/shop/isetatsu/index.html



Midoriya: Fine bamboo crafts
At Yanaka Ginza Phone: 03-3828-7522



Hamamatsuya: Traditional footware, geta and sandals
At Yanaka Ginza Phone: 03－3828－1301
You can get your semi-custom fitted geta here. Pick your favorite colors and patterns of hanao. Then, they will fit geta for you in 30 min.





Mujinzo: Nice Japanese traditional crafts and sandals
At Yanaka Ginza Phone: 03-3828-6203

Ameyoko, Ueno, Tokyo

Ameyoko is very lively shopping area that stretches from JR Ueno to UR Okachimachi Station. It is interesting to see all kinds of shops from seafood, clothes, and cosmetics all mixed in the crowded small area.

This post on DannyChoo.com has really great pictures of Ameyoko.

How to get there: From Ueno - JR Ueno Central Exit, Hibiya or Ginza Line 5B Exit
From Okachimachi - JR Okachimachi North Exit, Hibiya or Ginza Line A2,A5, A7 Exit, Oed Line A7 Exit

Ameyoko Official English website: http://www.ameyoko.net/e/

Nakamise, Sensoji, Asakusa, Tokyo

Please see Sensoji, Asakusa, Tokyo

Nakamise is the shopping area between Kaminarimon Gate and Hozomon Gate at Sensoji, Asakusa. Fun place to munch on manju, ningyoyaki, and osenbei.

Nakamise Shotengai at Sensoji, Asakusa
Official English website.
http://asakusa-nakamise.jp/e-index.html

List of shops at Nakamise

Tsukiji Jogai Shijo

Tsukji shows two faces to the world. First is jonai, the giant, enclosed wholesale fish and vegetable market area–this is what most people think of as Tsukiji. But, there is also jogai, this includes all of the shops and restaurants running down the streets adjoining the regular wholesale market.

Tsukiji jogai market has specialty shops such as konbu, nori, katsuo, tamago, vegetables, fish, knives, kaiseki ingredients, poultry, meat, chinmi, pickles, and restaurants. You can find some street food there, too.

Japanese PDF map of Tsukiji jogai
http://www.tsukiji.or.jp/ZYOGAI/map01.pdf

How to get there: Tokyo Metro Tsukiji Station Exit 1or Oedo Line Tsukiji Shijo
Address: Tsukiji 4-10-16, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 5 a.m.-1 p.m.
Closed: Closed Sundays and national holidays, as well as two Wednesdays a month (varies)

Official Japanese website.
http://www.tsukiji.or.jp/

Kappabashi, Tokyo

Kappabashi is a must see area if you like cooking. You will find over 170 shops, mostly wholesale shops with kitchen items and restaurant supplies.

Good place to look for knives, plates, ceramics, bowls, plastic food, and many more kitchen items.

Knife shops I like:
TDI

Kamata



How to get there: If you walk from Senso-ji, Asakusa, it is about 10 minutes walk. Othersiwe, Tawara-cho station on Ginza line
Address:
Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Sundays and Holidays

English links

Kappabashi Dogu Street
Official English website.
http://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/index.html

About Kappabashi and good map of the street at Bento.com
http://www.bento.com/phgal-kappabashi.html

Sensoji, Asakusa, Tokyo

Photo: May 2009 Sensoji, Asakusa
I am not sure how long the main building is going to be covered up.

Sensoji in Asakusa is a good destination on the first full day you have in Tokyo. It is very easy to get to and offers a lot to see in addition to the temple.

You can stroll the surrounding areas for shopping or trying all kinds of food such as sweets, noodles, tempura and sushi.

Time spent in Asakusa can be anywhere from 30 min to half a day.

How to get there - http://www.senso-ji.jp/access/index_e.html

English links

Senso-ji Official English website:
http://www.senso-ji.jp/guide/index_e.html

About Sensoji on JNTO website:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/tokyo/asakusa.html

Restaurant Map of Asakusa in English(PDF):
http://www.asakusa-umai.ne.jp/e_asakusa/map/images/umaimapE.pdf

Sumo Museum & Kokugikan, Ryogoku, Tokyo

Sumo Information in general provided by Nihon Sumo Kyokai.
http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/index.html

Even if you are not a big Sumo fan or if there's no tournament at Kokugikan, Sumo Museum is a good spot to stop after Edo-Tokyo Museum or before you head to chanko nabe lunch or dinner. It is free to get in and a good spot to learn history of Sumo. They also sell silly Sumo souvenirs such as magnets, towels and T-shirts.

About Sumo Museum

Location: first floor of The Ryogoku Kokugikan
Open: 10am - 4:30 pm
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays
Admission: free

Edo-Tokyo Museum, Ryogoku, Tokyo

Edo-Tokyo Museum, Ryogoku, Tokyo

I highly recommend to visit Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku to anyone visiting Tokyo. I also recommend to allow a few hours at the museum if you like history.

They recently acquired a few pieces to complete the set of Tokaido Gojyusantsugi or The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō by Utagawa Hiroshige (aka Ando Hiroshige) at the museum. Special exhibition to view all 53 Hiroshige's master pieces is on the 5th floor and ends on 5/10/2009.

In addition to the permanent exhibit on the 5th and 6th floor, they always have special exhibit on the first floor. Current exhibit is featuring one of the greatest anime artist in Japan, Osamu Tezuka. (until 6/21/2009)

While you are there, please make sure to stop at the museum shops on the first floor. They have lovely tenugui and other traditional items there.

Volunteer guide services are available between 9 am - 3 pm in eight languages and can be coordinated in advance.

Closed on Mondays.
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (7:30 pm on Saturdays)
Admission fees:
Adults 600yen

Please visit Edo-Tokyo Museum English Website for hours and admission fees.

Shiogama Fish Market, Miyagi

This is my favorite wholesale/retail fish market.I believe official English name is Shiogama Marine Products Wholesale Center.

It is only 15 min walk or a couple of minutes taxi ride from the JR Honshiogama Station on Senseki line. It is extremely relaxed and friendly to general public compare to Tsukiji. It's a major tuna market, too. You will see many tuna wholesalers and other fish only found in this area.

Best of all, you can buy fresh fish at the market, bring them to the corner restaurant in the market, and get rice and miso soup set for 300 yen (as of fall 2007). You can make your own seafood donburi, tuna donburi or uni donburi! Such a nice treat!

Hours: 3:00 am 1:00 pm
Sundays 6:00 am to 2:00 pm


I have been there on Sunday and it was very quiet, but I still got good uni to eat at the market.

If you like fish, this fish market is highly recommended!

Wholesale Fish Market web site in Japanese:
http://www.nakaoroshi.or.jp/

Fish Market, Kesennuma, Miyagi

Kesennuma is known as shark's fin capital in Japan and it's a good spot to go for fresh seafood. This sleepy fishing town has Taisho era homes and buildings that survived two big fires in the area.

I went to Kesennuma for sea urchin. Please see my blog post on Tokyofoodcast.

Fish market is the main attraction of this town. To catch the tuna auction at the wholesale section, you have to be there very early. Wholesale fish market part can be viewed from the designated viewing deck on the second floor.

Hours:
Wholesale market is open from 5:00 a.m.

Retail fish market, Umi-no Ichi, is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer,7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between October and March.

Access: If you are traveling on JR, take a taxi from JR Kesennuma Station. Should be around 1,000 yen. Or, take a train to Minami Kesennuma Station and walk for 5 minutes.
Directions from JR Kesennuma on Google Maps

Links:
Kesennuma related links:
http://delicious.com/enakamura/kesennuma




Kesennuma Photo Album




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