| Taitō (Tokyo) | |
 | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag   | |
| State | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Kantō |
| Website | Official site |
Taitō (台 東) is a district of the city of Tokyo.
To know
Speaking with a "suburban" Tokyoite (下町 shitamachi) he will think of the Taito district: the railway station of Ueno, where migrants from the deep north they came in search of a better life and the temples of AsakusaOnce an area full of prostitutes and gangsters, it has long since outgrown these characteristics. Locked in by a post-war distortion of low prices, Japanese hypermodernity struggles to make its mark here, with quirky oddities like bustling street markets and even the occasional log houses.
Geographical notes
| Orientation | ||
| Arakawa | ||
| Bunkyō |  | Sumida |
| Chiyoda | Chuo | |
Northeast of Chuo, Taitō is the area of cheap accommodation. To the east it was bathed by the Sumida River.
How to orient yourself
Taitō: full screen map.Neighborhoods
- 1 Ueno (上 野) - Centered around the railway station of the same name, Ueno is the district of museums and cherry gardens. It has also retained something of old Tokyo, which has long since disappeared. It is not a rich neighborhood but this translates into the fact that the prices of the hotels and its restaurants are more affordable than elsewhere. Also worth mentioning is the zoo of the same name which houses two giant pandas on loan from China and which represent the main attraction of the neighborhood.
- 2 Asakusa (浅 草) - Asakusa is the area of Buddhist and Shinto temples among which the most famous are the "Sensō-ji" and the Asakusa mausoleum. Every year or at every change of season, festivals known as Matsuri take place in front of Shinto temples. The most famous is the "Sanja Matsuri" which occurs in May.
- 3 Yanaka (谷中)
- 4 Ryusen (竜 泉)
- 5 Asakusabashi (浅 草橋) - two stops south on the Toei Asakusa Line, is a wholesale district known for its specialty bead supply stores. There are also many shops that sell party supplies.
How to get
Ueno station
- 1 Ueno Station. It was once the place from which steam locomotives left to the north-east, today the Shinkansen high-speed train makes only a short stop. Trains:
which unites the northern prefectures and ends here, 
Tōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akagi Line, Hitachi-Tokiwa, 
. If you come from Sapporo with one of the night trains, then Ueno will be the terminus. Meter:
. 
- 2 Nippori station. Lines
, Hitachi-Tokiwa, 
which unites the northern prefectures and ends here, 
Tōhoku Shinkansen, 
. If you come from 
.
, Hitachi-Tokiwa, 
| Streets that pass through Taitō |
| Nagano ← Takasaki ← Kumagaya ← | No.  S. | → Chiyoda |
| Niigata ← Takasaki ← Kumagaya ← | No.  S. | → Chiyoda |
| Sendai ← Nasu Shiobara ← Utsunomiya ← | No.  S. | → Chiyoda |
| Ōmiya ← Urawa ← Akabane ← | No.  S. | → Chiyoda |
| Shibuya ← Chiyoda ← | OR  IS | → Sumida → Chiba |
| Iwaki ← Myth← Kashiwa ← | No.  S. | → end |
| end ← | OR  IS | → Keisei Funabashi → Narita |
| Tsukuba ← Kashiwa ← Misato ← | OR  S. | → end |
| end ← | No.  S. | → Honcho → verse  → Ginza |
How to get around
- 3 Nezu Station. Line
- 4 Uguisudani station. Lines
- 5 Minowa station. Line .
- 6 Minami-Senju Station. Lines
- 7 Kuramae Station. Lines
- 8 Tawaramachi Station. Line
, penultimate station before reaching the Asakusa terminus. - 9 Asakusa Station (浅 草 駅 Asakusa-eki). Lines
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_symbol.svg/20px-Tobu_Nikko_Line_(TN)_symbol.svg.png)
, Ryōmō Line, . Terminus of the line . - 10 Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express). Not to be confused with the other station of the same name, this only hosts trains
and is located at some distance from each other.
, penultimate station before reaching the Asakusa terminus._symbol.svg/20px-Tobu_Isesaki_Line_(TI)_symbol.svg.png){kind=small}
_symbol.svg/20px-Tobu_Nikko_Line_(TN)_symbol.svg.png){kind=small}
, Ryōmō Line, 
and is located at some distance from each other.What see
Sensōji
1 Sensōji (浅 草 寺 Asakusa Kannon). The largest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, dating back to the mid-7th century, according to legend, it was created to house a small statue of the goddess of mercy Kannon that two fishing brothers had found in their nets. It is a major tourist attraction for both Japanese and foreigners. Take the Asakusa subway exit and follow the crowd.
The sculpture museum
- 2 Asakusa Sculpture Museum (朝 倉 彫塑 館 Asakura-chōsōkan), 7-18-10 Yanaka (Nippori station , Hitachi-Tokiwa, north exit), ☎ 81 3-3821-4549.
500 yen adults, minors 300 yen. 
09: 30-16.30 Tue, Wed and Fri-Sun. Not a "museum" in the traditional sense of the word, this is the former residence designed by the scholar and sculptor Fumio Asakura (1883-1964). He set up his Japanese home and garden with a studio that incorporated vaulted ceilings, a "sunrise room" and a roof garden with wonderful views of the neighborhood. It is now a museum full of works of art, but also a wonderful place to stroll and contemplate the meaning of life.
500 yen adults, minors 300 yen. 
09: 30-16.30 Tue, Wed and Fri-Sun. Not a "museum" in the traditional sense of the word, this is the former residence designed by the scholar and sculptor Fumio Asakura (1883-1964). He set up his Japanese home and garden with a studio that incorporated vaulted ceilings, a "sunrise room" and a roof garden with wonderful views of the neighborhood. It is now a museum full of works of art, but also a wonderful place to stroll and contemplate the meaning of life.
The Shitamachi museum
- 3 Shitamachi Museum Annex (下町 風俗 資料 館 付 設 展示 場, shitamachifū-shiryōkan-fusetsu-tenjijō), 2-10-6 Ueno-Sakuragi (10 minutes from Nezu station ), ☎ 81 3-3823-4408. free. Tue-Sun 09: 30-16: 30. Many buildings scattered around the Yanaka district survived the bombings of World War II, including this former sake shop built in 1910. Characteristic of Meiji-era architecture, the building now houses a small museum of sake and equipment for beer. Not to be confused with the homonymous museum in the Ueno park.
- 4 SCAI The Bathhouse, Kashiwayu-Ato 6-1-23 Yanaka (Uguisudani station ), ☎ 81 3-3821-1144. Tue-Sat 12: 00-18: 00. A small gallery displaying the work of contemporary artists, the building is a former sentiment, or spa establishment.
What to do
The park along the Sumida River
- 1 Take a walk along the river (Sumida Park) (Along the right bank of the Sumida, Asakusa metro station). The eastern part of the district is washed by the Sumida River. The riverside is a pleasant part where you can walk or jog in the riverside park.
Shopping
Yanaka Ginza
- 1 Yanaka Ginza (谷中 銀座). A commercial street full of shops.
- 2 Chaho Kanekichi-en (茶舗 金 吉 園), 3 Chome-12 Yanaka, Taitō-ku. An old-fashioned tea shop near the entrance to Yanaka Ginza, just follow the smell of the herbal teas. They make their own blends, which are uniformly excellent: try the slightly bitter "Snow Plum" (雪 の 梅 Yuki-no-Ume, ¥ 600 per 100g) or the unusual "Yanaka Midori" (谷中 み ど り, ¥ 600 -1000 per 100g), a mix of roasted tea stems (the cheapest tea) with tea ceremony matcha (the most expensive tea). Ask to see the private garden and if they're in a good mood they might just give you a peek.
- 3 Gotō no Ame (後 藤 の 飴), 3 Chome-15-15-1 Nishinippori, Arakawa-ku, ☎ 81 3-3821-0880. Thu-Mar 10: 30-20: 00. A traditional Japanese candy shop (ame) at the end of Yanaka Ginza, everything sold here is locally made and fairly inexpensive.
- 4 Kiwa Seisakusho (貴 和 製作 所), Asakusabashi 2-1-10, ☎ 81 3-3863-5111. Mon-Sat 09: 30-19: 30. No less than 5 floors of plastic balls of all shapes and sizes. Three shops just Asakusabashi, the largest near the A4 and A2 subway exits
- 5 Kappabashi-dori (合 羽 橋) (Close to the Tawaramachi station on the Ginza line). This is the Tokyo district dedicated to the wholesale of restaurant items, where you can find plastic food reproductions displayed in restaurant windows, and an immense variety of tableware and kitchen equipment. Some stores are only wholesale, but others are happy to sell individual items and Japanese pottery (which to the untrained eye is indistinguishable from artisanal ones), which can be purchased for as little as 100 yen a piece. Another deal may be Japanese kitchen knives, which are generally much cheaper than overseas. Shops are generally closed on Sundays.
- 6 Denkama (田 窯), 1 Chome-4-３ Nishiasakusa, Taitō-ku (on the corner of Kappabashi-dori and Asakusa-dori), ☎ 81 3-5828-9355. A shop specializing in handcrafted Japanese tableware. The offering shelves outside the store are particularly cheap at a few hundred yen per item, but the more expensive items on the second floor can cost tens of thousands of yen.
How to have fun
- 1 Luang (ル ワ ン), Matsugaya 1-11-3 (Near Tawaramachi on the Ginza line), ☎ 81 3 6426-2170. A cigar bar serving coffee, alcoholic beverages and desserts. There is a great selection of cigars, particularly from the Dominican Republic.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Pelican bakery (bakery), 4-chōme-7-4 Kotobuki, Taito City, ☎ 81 3-3841-4686. Mon-Sat 8: 00-17: 00.
- 2 Suke6 Diner, 1-11-1 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0033 Ayumi Building 1-2F (Asakusa Station (Ginza / Asakusa Line) No. 5, a 3-minute walk from the north exit. A 5-minute walk from the A5 Exit of the Asakusa Toei Line Station), ☎ 81 3-5830-3367. Tue-Sun 8: 00-21: 00. Riverside venue for breakfast and other meals with menus in English.
Average prices
- 3 Zakuro, 3-14-13 Nishi-Nippori (3 minutes west of the JR Nippori North Exit), ☎ 81 3-3822-1543. Dinner ¥ 2000. 11:00-19:00. This Persian / Turkish restaurant indulges in the culinary experience: you sit on the carpeted floor, wear Middle Eastern clothes, and dessert includes a hookah! And all the while, the owner wanders from table to table making jokes in Japanese.
Where stay
Taito offers the best range of budget and mid-range accommodation in Tokyo. The lists below cover only the farthest parts of the district, see Asakusa is Ueno for hotel listings in the immediate vicinity of the two central stations.
Moderate prices
The area around Minami-Senju (南 千 住), near the northern end of the neighborhood, has some of the cheapest accommodations in Tokyo. The typical room is a single tatami of 2 square meters, with television and air conditioning. The bedding is Japanese style (futon set and pillow). All hotels listed here usually cater to backpackers and have English speaking staff. Exit at Minami-Senju and go south towards Meiji-Dori (main road) on Route 464. The further you get from the train station, the less you get in convenience. About ¥ 3,500 up to ¥ 2,100 for singles, even ¥ 1,500 for dorms along this road (Route 464).
- 1 Backpack Tokyo Hostel, 3-12-5 Ryusen (take the Hibiya subway to Minowa station (H19), exit 1B), ☎ 81 3-38753264, @[email protected]. Dorms from ¥ 2100 per night, private from ¥ 3500 per night.
- 2 Juyoh Hotel, 2-15-3 Kiyokawa (10 minutes walk south from Minami-senju station), ☎ 81 3-3875-5362, fax: 81 3-5603-5775. prices ranging from ¥ 3200 for a single (¥ 2980 with a printable discount coupon from their web page) to ¥ 6400 for a double (¥ 5960 with coupon). Very nice budget hotel. Internet access available in the lobby, five PCs and Macs available; wireless and ethernet support for laptops.
- 3 New Koyo, 2-26-13 Nihonzutsumi, ☎ 81 3-3873-0343. Single room for ¥ 2900, double room for ¥ 5200. Don't expect too much from this hotel.
- 4 Tokyo Backpackers (東京 バ ッ ク パ ッ カ ー ズ), 2-26-13 Nihonzutsumi, ☎ 81 3-3871-2789, @[email protected]. Dorms ¥ 2200. Check in: 16:00-21:00, check-out: 11:00. Clean and modern considering the low price. No lockers in the rooms and only very small available in the corridor. Other valuables can be left at the reception. Free WIFI and TV in the lobby, as well as a bathroom with shower, kitchen and coin-operated laundry. The hostel is closed (guests must leave) every day from 11am to 4pm.
- 5 [link not working]Oak Hotel, Higashi-Ueno 6-1-2 (Two blocks north from the JR Ueno Asakusa Station exit, tucked away in an alley on the left). Singles for students ¥ 5880. Small, but clean and efficient rooms, computers with free internet, a collection of travel books, launderette, and English-speaking staff make this a worthwhile stop for foreign visitors. Guests with their LAN-enabled laptops / netbooks can get free internet access in the privacy of their room; borrow a connection kit from reception. Located near Inarichō Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) and Kappabashi-Dori Crockery Road. Ueno Station is a long but manageable walk. Offers a discount for ISIC cardholders.
- 6 Tsukuba Hotel Ueno (ツ ク バ ホ テ ル), Moto-Asakusa 2-7-8 (1 min from Ginza subway station Inaricho, 8 minutes from JR Ueno), ☎ 81 3 3834-2556. Western-style singles ¥ 5250, Japanese-style tatami rooms with shared bathroom from ¥ 4000. Older but functional business hotel offering small but affordable rooms. Free wireless, free PCs, launderette.
- 7 Villa Fontaine Ueno (ヴ ィ ラ フ ォ ン テ ー ヌ 上 野), 2-4-4 Kojima, Taito (5 minutes walk from Shin-Okachimachi Station), ☎ 81 3 5339-1200. ¥7900. Mid-range hotel. The rooms are equipped with internal toilets. The staff speaks English. Simple breakfast included Free Internet (via LAN cable) in the rooms. The rooms are quiet and pleasant.
- 8 Taitō Ryokan (The nearest station is Tawaramachi on the Ginza line), ☎ 81 3 3843-2822. ¥ 3000. An old post-war house converted into an inn. Friendly staff. Shared shower, two shared bathrooms. No frills and thin walls. A few blocks from Nakamise Street and Sensoji Temple.
- 9 Tokyo Ryokan, ☎ 81 90 8879-3599. ¥3000. A modern construction with high standards. Friendly staff, shared shower and toilets. Only rooms and futons are provided, but at a low price.
- 10 Asakusa Hotel & Capsule (ホ テ ル 浅 草 ＆ カ プ セ ル), 台 東区 寿 4-14-9 (Several blocks east of Tawaramachi on the Ginza Line), ☎ 81 3 3847-4477, fax: 81 3 3841-1525. ¥ 2200. This is a capsule hotel. No English is spoken, but the staff know foreigners and have information in English on the prints.
- 11 Hotel Trend Asakusa Tawaramachi, 寿 111-0042, Taito-ku, Tokyo 1-chome 18-3 (Minutes from Tawaramachi Station), ☎ 81 3-5828-3155. € 50 approx. (May 2019). Simple but very clean rooms, quiet and well served by public transport.
Average prices
- 12 Andon Ryokan, 2-34-10 Nihonzutsumi (5 minutes walk from the Minowa metro station), ☎ 81 3-3873-8611, fax: 81 3-3873-8612. ¥ 8190 for a double. This is a well-kept ryokan north of Ueno.
- 13 Annex Katsutaro Ryokan (ア ネ ッ ク ス 勝 太郎 旅館), 3-8-4 Yanaka (near the Sendagi metro exit 2 - from the top of the stairs turn left, cross Shinobazu-dori just past Lawson's and go straight for another 50 meters; or from Nippori station follow Yanaka Ginza to the end and turn left), ☎ 81 3-3828-2500, fax: 81 3-3821-5400. single ¥ 6300, double ¥ 10,500. Small Japanese-style tatami rooms with private bathrooms and air conditioning in a modern 3-story building (elevator available) on a quiet residential street. Spoken English. Wifi; free use of the computer in the lobby; washer / dryer (ask for detergent at reception).
- 14 Sawanoya Ryokan (旅館 澤 の 屋), 2-3-11 Yanaka (7 minutes walk from Nezu Station Exit 1, 10 minutes by taxi from Ueno Station or 25-30 minutes on foot), ☎ 81 3-3822-2251, fax: 81 3-3822-2252, @[email protected]. Single ¥ 4935-5250 without bathroom, double ¥ 9240/9870 without / with bathroom, triple ¥ 12600/14175 without / with bathroom. Well known and popular ryokan, all Japanese style rooms with tatami floors. Two en-suite bedrooms, the other 10 share two Japanese style bathrooms and showers. Good neighborhood to wander around and just look at the houses and gardens. Free internet and LAN points in all rooms. Coin operated laundry and very friendly staff. Closed from December 29th to January 3rd. Quote from the owner "I stay here not because it's cheap but because it's friendly".
Safety
- 11 Asakusa pharmacy Komagata shop (Pharmacy), 1-chōme-10-6 Komagata, ☎ 81 3-6802-7577. Mon-Sat 9: 30-19: 30.
How to keep in touch
Internet
- Taito Free Wi-Fi, ☎ 81 570-015-152. WIFI service of the Taito district.
