Yanesen

Yanaka Shopping Street

Yanaka is a neighborhood where charming old-fashioned shops line the streets, creating a sense of nostalgia at every turn. From the Nippori Station side, stroll past Yanaka Cemetery on your left, and you’ll encounter long-established shops of rice crackers, tsukudani, and more.
Ahead lies the staircase lovingly called Yuyake Dandan (Sunset Stairs). Descend the steps, pass an elegant bamboo craft shop, and you’ll arrive at Yanaka Ginza. If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll find yourself stopping for a quick bite—rows of shops offer everything from savory snacks to sweet treats, all perfect for enjoying as you walk.

Walls and Small Paths

This area is home to many temples and shrines—and cemeteries as well. The walls that surround these places play a quiet but important role in creating the district’s unique atmosphere. As you walk along these narrow paths, you may suddenly forget that you’re still in Tokyo.
The tsuiji-bei (traditional earthen wall) at Kannonji Temple in Yanaka is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, adding yet another layer of history to the neighborhood.

Sendagi

When Noripy was a child, rice was something you bought from a neighborhood rice shop. And here in Sendagi, those old-fashioned rice stores still exist today! Fish shops, rice cracker shops—everything is a small, street-front store, just like in the old days.

Nezu Shrine

It’s said to have a history of 1,900 years—so old it’s hard to even imagine how far back that goes. The sheer presence of the torii gate at Nezu Shrine is truly overwhelming. Once you step inside the grounds, you’re greeted by the surprising sight of rolling hills covered in azaleas.
And within Nezu Shrine, there are several smaller shrines as well. Among them, the Senbon Torii (thousands of torii gates) at Otome Inari Shrine is especially popular with visitors.

Nezu

Hantei is a renowned kushikatsu (deep-fried skewer) restaurant with a truly Japanese atmosphere. Above all, the traditional building itself—designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property—is simply impressive.
Nearby, you’ll also find charming old merchant houses and a nostalgic candy shop just steps from Nezu Shrine. 

Foodie’s Delight

Just steps from Nezu’s Hantei is Kamachiku. As symbolized by the phrase displayed inside, “It’s just udon—yet it’s still udon,” this is an udon shop that finds depth of flavor in simplicity.
The menu offers only two choices of udon—kama-age and zaru—along with a few carefully selected side dishes such as dashimaki omelet, tempura, and limited-edition sesame tofu.
Set inside a renovated kura storehouse, the sunken kotatsu seating invites you to relax and soak in the atmosphere, while the first-floor tables look out onto a serene garden.
Foodie, satisfied!