Asakusa Underground Street

"A lot of things can be found underground in Tokyo, so having a specifically-designated "underground shopping street" sounded intriguing to me; I do love places that are secret or hidden away. This is a bit more public (hell, there's a sign pointing you to it), but it's no less awesome for it: a series of shops, restaurants and pubs, tucked away under the street, nestled between the infrastructure that makes this city of cities tick, complete with wires, pipes, leaky plumbing and interesting aromas; the sound of lively chatter and pulse-pounding music from at least one dance club; racks of old VHS tapes and DVDs with aging, light-bleached covers; yeah, this place was made for me. This is my jam. Hopefully, it is yours as well.A lot of things can be found underground in Tokyo, so having a specifically-designated "underground shopping street" sounded intriguing to me; I do love places that are secret or hidden away. This is a bit more public (hell, there's a sign pointing you to it), but it's no less awesome for it: a series of shops, restaurants and pubs, tucked away under the street, nestled between the infrastructure that makes this city of cities tick, complete with wires, pipes, leaky plumbing and interesting aromas; the sound of lively chatter and pulse-pounding music from at least one dance club; racks of old VHS tapes and DVDs with aging, light-bleached covers; yeah, this place was made for me. This is my jam. Hopefully, it is yours as well."

Jason Van Camp

"Stepping into Asakusa Underground Street feels less like entering a shopping mall and more like stumbling through a hole in the city's memory. Forget the polished, bright chika-gai of Shibuya or Tokyo Station. This place is shitamachi,
Tokyo distilled and preserved in a damp, low-ceilinged time capsule.
​It's one of Japan's oldest, and you can tell. The air has that specific, slightly musty smell of old concrete and cooking oil, with a perpetual, gentle sizzle coming from the legendary Fukuchan Yakisoba stand. The lighting is weak—just fluorescent tubes that make everything look a bit yellowed and slightly sinister, in the best possible way. The floors might even be a little slick, but that's just authenticity.
​You’re not going to find luxury brands or even chain coffee shops here. What you will find are tiny, grimy-beautiful spots: a classic, old-school barber still offering cheap cuts, a fortune teller tucked into a cubbyhole, little izakayas (pubs) with sticky counter tops, and a fantastic stand-up soba shop that locals actually use. It's a short, unglamorous tunnel, but every single inch is crammed with character.
​If you’re the type of traveler who gets bored with neon signs and wants to see a slice of post-war Showa-era Tokyo that’s still stubbornly breathing, this is it. It’s wonderfully rickety, a little confusing to find, and a necessary counterpoint to the tourist crowds swirling around the Sensoji Temple just above it. Don’t come for the shopping; come for the atmosphere. It’s absolutely fantastic."

Dan

"A neat spot to explore and it was featured in the 2023 movie "Perfect Days". Slightly challenging to find but I think that's part of the fun sometimes!

Photography by Jason Taylor"

Amy Shafer