オススメ度
外国語対応
About Yanesen
Yanesen is the common name for an area that includes three adjacent locations, Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi, located in the middle of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
From a tourist standpoint, there is not much to see in this area.
In Yanesen, there are streets that retain traces of the Showa period (1926-1989) and a downtown atmosphere, so walking around here you can somehow experience the atmosphere of the good old days in Japan.
If you are an “advanced traveler to Japan,” (i.e., this is your third visit to Tokyo or more), this is the area for you.
Brief History
This area was a farming area throughout the ancient and medieval times.
In the Edo period (1603-1868), when Edo (current day Tokyo) became the center of Japan, this area became a “residential area for the samurai class” and also a “temple town” with many temples built or relocated from other areas.
The era of the samurai class ended in 1868, and in the modern era, this area became an upscale residential area for upper middle class and above.
Many buildings in Tokyo were destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and by repeated air raids by the U.S. military during World War II (1939-1945), but this area suffered little damage.
As a result, the old-fashioned buildings and streets are still preserved today.
Yanesen continued to be a popular residential area after World War II, but in the 1990s, the area’s “retro, nostalgic, downtown” charm became widely known, and many stores and cafes with a good atmosphere that renovated old private homes were opened, making the area a popular tourist destination.
The area has become a popular tourist destination.
Yanesen is located in close proximity to Ueno, so it is a good idea to tour the area together.
Recommendation
Enjoy strolling, shopping and dining.
Strolling
Wander around the nostalgic and retro back alleys and shopping streets.
You can enjoy the atmosphere of the good old days in Japan.
Shopping
There are no large commercial facilities such as department stores or shopping centers in Yanesen, but there are many unique stores selling witty souvenirs and fashionable sundries.
Eat
Yanesen is home to a variety of restaurants, including fashionable cafes, popular eateries, and ethnic restaurants.
There are also many take-out restaurants where you can enjoy eating and walking around.
Access to Yanesen / Data
Access to Yanesen is basically by train and on foot.
There are also many bus routes, but they are difficult for foreigners to use, so they are not listed here.
Yanaka
- Nippori Station
JR Yamanote Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Joban Line, Keisei Electric Railway Main Line - Sendagi Station
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Nezu
- Nezu Station
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line - Sendagi Station
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line - Todaimae Station
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
Sendagi
- Sendagi Station
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line - Honkomagome Station
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
Sightseeing
Temples and Shrines
Nezu Shrine
This venerable shrine is said to have been founded by Yamato Takeru (72-114), a legendary hero in ancient Japanese history, and has a history of more than 1,900 years. It is one of the ten shrines of Tokyo and often appears in period dramas on Japanese television. The shrine pavilion, built in 1706, is the […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 1-28-9 Nedu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 5-minute walk from Nezu Stati[…] |
| Tel | 03-3822-0753 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Garden
Rikugien is one of the most famous Japanese gardens in Tokyo and is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the government.
See below for details.
Rikugien Garden
Rikugien is one of the most famous Japanese gardens in Tokyo and is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the government. See below for details. Rikugien is one of the most famous Japanese gardens in Tokyo.
[ See details ]
| Address | 6 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 7 minutes walk from JR / Metr[…] |
| Tel | |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Scenery
Yuyake Dandan
The staircase at the entrance (east side) of Yanaka Ginza shopping street is called Yuyake Dandan. It is located on a small hill, so on a clear day, you can see the beautiful sunset and the orange-colored city below. Although it is an ordinary place, it has a nostalgic atmosphere and is often used as […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 3-14 Nishinippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 4-minute walk from Nippori St[…] |
| Tel | 03-3802-3111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Cats
I am not sure if cats fall into the category of tourism, but Yanaka is called “Cat Town,” and there are cats here and there, all relaxing.
In particular, the area around Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street is a mecca for cat lovers.
There are many stores selling cat goods and cat cafes.
If you are interested in cats, search “Yanaka Cat” and gather information.
Shopping-Shopping Street
Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street
About 60 unique stores of various kinds, including delicatessens, sweets, sundries, cafes, and restaurants, line both sides of the 170-meter-long narrow street. The combination of factors such as “the shopkeepers’ warm-heartedness,” “nostalgic atmosphere,” and “many inexpensive and delicious side dishes and sweets for eating and walking around” make it a very popular place for both […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 3-13-1 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 5-minute walk from Nippori St[…] |
| Tel | |
| URL | [ Click ] |
いせ辰
1864年創業の千代紙の店だ。 この店が取り扱う江戸千代紙とは、華やかな色彩の模様を手作業で和紙に印刷したもの。 日本の伝統文化を色濃く映し出した美しい千代紙製品(雑貨・小物・おもちゃなど)は良い日本土産になるだろう。
[ See details ]
| Address | 台東区谷中2-18-9 |
|---|---|
| Access | 各線「日暮里駅」から徒歩10分、東京メトロ・千代田線「千駄[…] |
| Tel | 03-3823-1453 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Eat
Cafe
Kayaba Coffee
A very popular coffee shop that utilizes a wooden Japanese house built in 1916 in almost its original form. (Renovated in 2009) It is a symbolic presence in Yanaka. Both the exterior and the interior of the store are filled with a Japanese atmosphere, especially on the second floor, where tatami mats are laid out […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 6-1-29 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 10-minute walk from Nippori S[…] |
| Tel | 03-5832-9896 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Take Out
Taiyaki in Nezu
This store specializes in taiyaki and offers takeout only. Almost every day there is a line from morning, and the taiyakis are often sold out by midday, so if you really want to try one, you should go in the morning and get in line. Each taiyaki is carefully baked one by one by artisans […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 1-23-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 5-minute walk from Nedu Stati[…] |
| Tel | 03-3823-6277 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Meat Suzuki
A delicatessen located in Yanaka Ginza shopping street. The most popular item is the “Genki Menchikatsu” / 220 yen. Made from high-quality beef (Wagyu and Australian) and deep-fried in lard, the menchikatsu is crispy on the outside and very juicy inside, filled with the flavor of meat. It is good to buy it freshly made […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 3-15-5 Nishinippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Access | 6-minute walk from Nippori St[…] |
| Tel | 03-3821-4526 |
| URL |
