Walk around Asakusa in a cute kimono. There are plenty of photo spots and gourmet food to try.
Asakusa is a popular tourist spot that still retains its good old streetscape and traditional downtown human kindness. Recently, the number of foreign tourists has increased and it has become world famous. And with its beautiful streetscape, more and more domestic tourists are strolling around Asakusa in kimono to take photos that will look good on social media, while foreign tourists are walking around in kimono to have a truly Japanese experience. In response to this demand, the number of kimono rental shops is increasing, and VASARA Kimono Rental, which has stores nationwide, is focusing on Asakusa, with four stores in the Asakusa area alone. In this article, we will introduce recommended photo spots and gourmet food to eat while walking around Asakusa in a kimono.
Kimono rental in Asakusa: "Kimono Rental VASARA"
VASARA Kimono Rental has four stores in the Asakusa area, and all of them have cute kimonos and obi. You can choose from hundreds of options, so you can find a combination that suits you. You can also style your hair to match your Japanese clothing, and there is a wide selection of options for Japanese clothing accessories such as hair ornaments and hairpins, so you can arrange it according to your mood. Rental items must be returned by 17:30 on the day, but if you pay an extension fee (980 yen excluding tax), you can extend the return time from 9:00 to 17:30 the next day, so it is perfect for those who want to play in Asakusa at night or go to a fireworks display in a kimono and then go home in the same kimono. It takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour from arrival to departure to put on a kimono. It is a casual kimono experience, so please give it a try.
●Start your walk in Asakusa from Kaminarimon
All three kimono rental VASARA stores in the Asakusa area are within a five-minute walk of Kaminarimon. And there's a reason why we head to Kaminarimon immediately after changing. Asakusa is a world-famous tourist spot. The peak time for tourists is around 11:00. This is so that you can visit the temple from Kaminarimon to Sensoji Temple by this time and enjoy the rest of the day with minimal waiting time.
When you arrive at Kaminarimon, take a commemorative photo in your kimono. If you take a photo at Kaminarimon, when you post it on social media, it will be obvious that you went to Asakusa. By the way, the best place to take a photo at Kaminarimon is the "crosswalk." In front of Kaminarimon is a scramble intersection, with pedestrians and cars separated by traffic lights. The moment the pedestrian light turns green, the person holding the camera steps onto the crosswalk. The person being photographed stands in front of the guardrail in front of Kaminarimon. This way, you can include the willow tree on the left side of Kaminarimon, and you can take a beautiful photo without other pedestrians crossing. The time when the pedestrian light turns green is a very busy time, so be sure to take the photo quickly and with safety as your top priority.
Continue along Nakamise-dori and visit Sensoji Temple. If it's not busy, you'll be drawn to the gourmet food on Nakamise-dori, but as you eat, time will pass and the number of people will increase, making it difficult to visit the temple, so it's best to visit Sensoji Temple first. The food and souvenirs on Nakamise-dori are rarely sold out, so go with the mindset that you'll stop by before returning your kimono.
● Photo spot
・Imahan Annex
The entrance to Imahan Main Branch, a famous long-established sukiyaki restaurant, has a Japanese-style atmosphere, making it the perfect place to come if you're wearing a kimono. The building is a designated tangible cultural property, and the interior of the restaurant has the feel of a traditional Japanese restaurant. We also recommend enjoying a luxurious lunch here.
・Denpoin Street
Denpoin Street, which crosses Nakamise Street, is lined with old-fashioned shops that exude a retro feel. It is a street that suits kimonos, and there are plenty of places to eat while walking around. If you head towards the Tsukuba Express, you will find four tapioca milk tea specialty stores, so taking a photo with a glass of tapioca milk tea will make a great photo for social media.
・Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Store
Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Store, famous for its crispy and fluffy jumbo melon bread, has a photo spot that is perfect for Instagram. Windmills that change color with the seasons are installed on one wall, making it a perfect match for kimonos. For the summer of 2019, the color is all blue, making it a cool photo spot, so be sure to go and take some photos.
●Gourmet food on the go
・Asakusa Ichigoza
Asakusa Ichigoza, which opened in May 2019, is a sweets shop that mainly focuses on strawberries. They also offer sweets such as strawberry smoothies and Ichigoza Gariotome that will cool down your body that has become hot from the sun and walking around. It is located next to the VASARA Kimono Rental Sensoji store, so why not stop by after you have changed into a kimono or on your way home?
・marugotonippon/UMIERE
UMIERE, popular for its tapioca drinks and soft serve ice cream, has opened a store in Marugoto Nippon, which stocks specialties from all 47 prefectures. The soft serve ice cream with its distinctive fluffy appearance and the tapioca drinks in stylish clear bottles are perfect for Instagram. It's conveniently located, so please give it a try.
● Asakusa is a place where retro yet trendy spots are constantly moving in
Asakusa is a popular tourist destination that is easy to get to, with its retro streetscape, the latest sweets and photogenic spots. Why not try going to Asakusa, which is popular all over the world, wearing a traditional Japanese kimono?
