Asakusa, being the home of Tokyo’s oldest temple -- Sensoji-ji -- is frequented by tourists on weekends and weekdays alike. As you step out of the Asakusa Station, you’ll find yourself gone back in time as you walk past traditional Japanese shops that sell unique sweets, ceramic tableware, taiko, kimono, hairpins -- you name it. Of course, a trip to Asakusa isn’t complete an authentic Japanese dining experience, and Sometaro might as well be the most loved option of all.

Making Okonomiyaki while on your knees

Okonomiyaki Sometaro
You will know when you’ve arrived at Sometaro - the old wooden house-turned restaurant has kept the same appearance since 1938, and may well have a long line of hungry foodies waiting to make their own okonomiyaki at this retro spot.

There are no seats whatsoever inside the restaurant -- only tatami mats and cushions. All visitors will have to take off their shoes and sit on the tatami floor for the duration of the meal (spoiler alert: your back may hurt!).

Sometaro offers a full menu of okonomiyaki, with the someyaki being the shop’s most popular item. Unlike most okonomiyaki, this someyaki contains yakisoba in it and the filling is sandwiched by two thin pieces of pancake, which adds to the voluminous texture of the dish.

As this restaurant is becoming more and more popular among foreigners, their menu is well translated into English, Chinese and Korean as well. Now just make sure you don’t burn your okonomiyaki!

Dessert in Asakusa’s version of Kyoto’s bamboo forest

Asakusa Izumi
Just a two-minute walk down the main street towards Kaminarimon from Sometaro, you may notice a classy-looking dessert place with a bamboo forest and tens of delicious-looking plastic food samples at the shopfront.

Turns out it’s not only on the outside -- diners will get to enjoy the view of an indoor bamboo forest and a tiny Japanese-style garden as they indulge in their traditional Japanese dessert at Asakusa Izumi.

The fruity red bean paste desserts are available all year-round, while the shaved ice is only for summertime (May to October), and hot red bean soup is only for winter time (November to AprIl).

With calming music, traditional Japanese sweets and a garden surrounding you, it may feel like you’ve teleported to Kyoto!

Of course, the signature Kaminarimon

Keep going the main street for another few minutes, and you’ll see the famous Senso-ji Temple and Kaminarimon gate on your left, accompanied by groups of rickshaw drivers offering you a guided tour around the old town. Being Tokyo’s oldest temple, Senso-ji was completed in year 645, and fronted by a bustling street of more than 200 shops selling souvenirs and Japanese snacks.

Besides being one of Tokyo’s most visited spot, Sensoji is a symbol of rebirth and peace to local people, as the temple was bombed and destroyed during World War II. Following the rebuild of the temple, Sensoji now holds Tokyo’s largest and most popular festival, Sanja Matsuri, which takes place every year on the third weekend of May in order to honor the three men that founded Sensoji.