Tokyo is a city characterized by modern technology, skyscrapers, and a dynamic hustle culture, leading to a fast-paced lifestyle. However, Tokyo has its own pockets that represent the “old town” of Tokyo for those who appreciate a slower lifestyle and want to explore and settle down. This is Shitamachi. But what exactly is Shitamachi, and what are the best areas to experience it? Well, today, we’re going to look at the top Shitamachi neighborhoods in Tokyo.
What is Shitamachi?
Shitamachi directly translates to “lower city” and was coined during the Edo period. During this time, Shitamachi areas were where commoners typically lived. This is in stark contrast to Yamanote, which is considered the higher city and where affluent communities reside.
However, this is not only a geographic difference but is also largely characterized by the cultural identities of these areas. Walking through the lower city versus the higher city in present-day Tokyo, you can still feel these cultural differences, with Shitamachi consisting mostly of traditional and historic neighborhoods. As a traveler to Japan, you may have a preference for one of these areas without even realizing it. To help you discover that preference, we detail some Shitamachi areas to explore.
Key Experiences in Shitamachi
The characteristics of these towns are not defined solely by geography but also by the details within their neighborhoods. A Shitamachi area will most likely have narrow alleys, mom-and-pop shops, temples, and traditional architecture reminiscent of old Japan. A defining characteristic of these towns is their traditional culture and local neighborhoods. Life is slower-paced here and well worth exploring.
Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street – Photo Credit: Nichika Sakurai
Yanaka
A nostalgic neighborhood known for its cat-themed details in the streets, food, and temples, Yanaka is a well-preserved Shitamachi neighborhood known for retaining the atmosphere of old Tokyo, including areas that survived the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake more than much of central Tokyo. You can get lost in the slow-paced atmosphere of this town. With winding alleys, the long stretch of Yanaka Ginza is known for great street food and cat-themed eats with cat rice crackers and even cat taiyaki. Through these streets, there are small craftsman shops, mom-and-pop shops, and even shops for cat-themed seals. Yanaka is also closely located to Nezu, where you can walk over to Nezu Shrine, which is one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo and known for its beautiful scenery in a hidden pocket of Tokyo. If you’re a cat lover and tired of the fast-paced lifestyle of Tokyo, Yanaka is a great Shitamachi to explore.
If you want to explore Yanaka with the help of an expert guide, make sure to check out our Old Town Tokyo Tour!
Address: Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001, Japan
View of Toshogu Shrine found in Ueno Park – Photo Credit: Jack Hong
Ueno
Home to the Shitamachi Museum is Ueno, a district in Tokyo, full of rich history and culture. Although this town suffered major devastation from the war and earthquake, Ueno rebuilt and preserved its traditional characteristics through the power of its people and community. Preserving this, the Shitamachi Museum details, through an immersive experience, Japanese history and older everyday life from the previous Ueno. So although the city was destroyed, the culture was preserved. Now Ueno is home to major art museums, street markets, zoos, and temples. Ameyoko Market is near the train tracks and has street food stalls to taste traditional Japanese cuisine. Ueno also has Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum, and Ueno Zoo. A slightly more lively area of Shitamachi, the newly constructed areas are intermingled with wooden alleys and izakayas. Ueno is the perfect spot to check out the Shitamachi area, intermingled with the rich culture of Japan.
If you want to learn more about culture in Ueno, make sure to check out our new Ueno tour!
Address: Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
View of Nihonbashi Bridge with one of its guardian lion statues – Photo Credit: Camera Papa
Nihonbashi
At the center of Tokyo resides Nihonbashi, a Shitamachi that is now intermingling with modern Tokyo. Nihonbashi is regularly associated with Tokyo Station and residing in a high-end area, but Nihonbashi is still a Shitamachi with a rich culture. When you walk through Nihonbashi, there are skyscrapers, but take a couple of turns, and you return to old town Japan with wooden architecture, century-old businesses, and puppet theaters (specifically residing in Ningyocho). Nihonbashi was a Shitamachi that connected Edo to the outer provinces of Japan, serving as a highly important cultural and historic city. For an intermingling of modern and Edo-period Japan, Nihonbashi is the perfect stop.
Address: Nihonbashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
Busy Asakusa street with Tokyo Skytree in the background – Photo Credit: Iban Lopez Luna
Asakusa
Sensoji Temple’s reputation precedes itself as one of the oldest temples in Tokyo, and along with this comes the history and atmosphere of the surrounding city. Walking along the streets of Sensoji, you are taken back to the old-town vibe of Tokyo while still experiencing historical monuments. Asakusa used to be a merchant town and still to this day has many shops not only by Sensoji but on its surrounding streets. Japan’s oldest amusement park is even located here, a perfect trip for kids accompanied by traditional charm. This neighborhood is home to tens of shrines to visit and experience the traditional culture of Tokyo. With history attached to the city, Asakusa is not just a trip to see the famous tourist shrine, but an opportunity to walk in the surrounding area, experience Shitamachi, and revisit what Tokyo life was like hundreds of years ago.
To start discovering this beautiful shitamachi neighborhood, check out our Asakusa Twilight Tour for a nighttime experience like no other!
Address: Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Busy street of Togoshi Ginza Shotengai – Photo Credit: Japan Travel Navitime
Togoshi Ginza Shotengai
Not to be confused with Ginza in central Tokyo, Togoshi Ginza Shotengai is a massive shopping area in Shinagawa Ward. But rather than luxury shopping and huge skyscrapers, this area encapsulates the old downtown feel of a Shitamachi neighborhood. Luxury handbags are not being bought here – communities are coming together for downtime and casual experiences. Here, locals shop for groceries, accessories, and homeware, and go to the clinic and banks. Everything for a local is on this street, creating an atmosphere to see familiar faces. This Shitamachi area also has its own mascot, Ginchan, to liven up the atmosphere. Although known for being a huge shopping street in Tokyo, you won’t find the crazy hustle from tourists and locals in the city center, but a community going about its daily lives.
Address: Japan, 〒142-0041 Tokyo, Shinagawa City, Togoshi, 1 Chome−15−16 戸越銀座商店街会館
With a fast-paced and constantly changing world characterized by rapid technology and trends, it can be difficult to find pockets of a slow-paced, traditional lifestyle in a massive city like Tokyo. Shitamachi neighborhoods that bring you back in time to the old downtown Tokyo lifestyle are a reminder that there are pockets of history and culture still present in modern cities. It is easy to be blindsided by fast-paced culture; it’s important to appreciate these neighborhoods for keeping history frozen in time for the future of Japan.
Featured Photo Credit: Aleksandar Pasaric
