Asakusa Chikagai Underground Shopping Street

Asakusa Chikagai, or Asakusa Underground Shopping Street, is a subterranean market established in the 1950s and has become a part of Asakusa’s cultural and commercial landscape. Spanning approximately 250 meters with around 50 shops and restaurants, it provides a shopping experience that echoes the nostalgia of an older Tokyo.

The street itself is inconspicuous and easily overlooked. Many stores in the labyrinthine street appear like they haven’t been renovated since the 50s, providing a snapshot in time of Showa Era Tokyo.

The easiest entrance is found in front of the EKIMISE shopping building, where (rather dingy) stairs lead down into Asakusa’s underground.

Traditional Showa-era facades and lanterns add to the atmosphere, inviting visitors to explore shops and restaurants selling everyday items like kimono, ceramics, electronics and accessories. Many of the small restaurants are well regarded in the local community, and it can become particularly busy during the lunch hours.

Whether you think it’s retro or dilapidated, the Asakusa Chikagai is a worthwhile visit to see and explore an older side of Tokyo, before flashing neon and technofuturistic architecture.