Tokyo is world-renowned for being a vibrant and bustling metropolis filled with skyscrapers and all sorts of latest technological advancements. However, the city is also home to some districts that have a traditional atmosphere, reminiscent of the old Edo Period.

Asakusa

Young women wearing traditional Japanese Kimono at Sensoji Temple (Asakusa temple)

One of the most popular old town Tokyo districts is Asakusa, which is located in the heart of the city. It is where some of Tokyo’s best-preserved ancient structures are located, including the:

  • Sensoji Temple – a 7th century temple that is considered to be the most popular in Tokyo
  • Kaminari Gate – a thousand-year-old gate to the Sensoji Temple
  • Asakusa Shrine – an Edo Period shrine that serves as the venue of the Sanja Matsuri, a festival dedicated to the shrine

It also has other must-see attractions, such as the:

  • Sumida Park – a spacious park that occupies a long stretch of both banks of the Sumida River and a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing during spring time
  • Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center – an eight-storey building with a distinct and unique architectural style, it offers assistance to tourists in different languages and has an observatory that offers good views of the surroundings
  • Rokku Entertainment District – home to pachinko parlors, cinemas, rakugo theaters, and other entertainment facilities
  • Asahi Beer Tower – home of the Asahi Breweries headquarters and has numerous cafes and restaurants

Ueno

Ueno park snow in Tokyo japan nice white landscape,tokyo winter,Shinobazunoike Bentendo

Only a short walk from Ueno Station, Ueno (or Ueno Park) is another famous old town district in Tokyo. Its area includes a number of important landmarks that played significant roles in Japanese history.

  • Kaneiji Temple – a temple complex that used to be among the wealthiest and largest in Tokyo but was mostly destroyed in the middle of the Boshin War
  • Toshogu Shrine – a 17th century shrine constructed in honor of Tokugawa Ieyasu
  • Kiyomizu Kannon Temple – a temple that was constructed in 1631 and holds an image of the goddess of conception, Kosodate Kannon
  • Bentendo – a temple shaped like an octagon dedicated to the goddess of music, knowledge, wealth and good fortune, Benten

Other sights to explore in the area are:

  • Tokyo National Museum – Japan’s largest and oldest museum, home to a wide and diverse collection of historical and cultural artifacts from various periods of Japanese history
  • Ueno Zoo – the oldest zoo in the country, inaugurated in 1882 and home to several animal species, most notably giant pandas

The walkway inside the Kaneiji Temple and lens Flare Conceptual solution of the problem