Tokyo/Taito

Taitō (台東) is a northeastern ward of Tokyo. Talk to a Tokyoite about "downtown" (下町 shitamachi), and he will think of the Taito district: the train station of Ueno, where migrants from the deep north first arrived in their search for a better life, and the temples of Asakusa, once a boom town full of prostitutes and gangsters, but long past its prime now. Stuck in a low-rent post-war time warp, here Japan's hypermodernity takes a bit of a breather, with such quaint oddities as bustling street markets and even the occasional wooden house.

Understand
Two districts of Taito have their own articles:
 * Asakusa, known particularly for Sensō-ji Temple (Asakusa Kannon).
 * Ueno, packed full of museums and Tokyo's best-known cherry blossom viewing spot.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Authentic Tokyo is the ward's English language guide site.

The ward has another Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate and different sets of contents, including downloadable pamphlets in many languages.

Get in
Ueno Station is the major hub, connecting together northbound Shinkansen passengers with the JR Yamanote line, the subway Ginza and Hibiya lines, and the Keisei trains to Narita.

If visiting Tokyo University in Bunkyo, the Hongō Sanchōme Stations of the Marunouchi and Ōedo subway lines are the most convenient.

Buy



 * Asakusabashi (浅草橋), two stops south on the Toei Asakusa Line, is a wholesale district which these days is known for its shops specializing in bead craft supplies. There are also many stores selling traditional Japanese festival and party supplies.


 * Okachimachi (御徒町) area, to the southeast of JR Okachimachi station, is known for jewelry industry - about 2,000 shops, wholesalers and workshops concentrate in the area.

Markets


Collectively called Ya-ne-sen, Yanaka (谷中), Nezu (根津) and Sendagi (千駄木) are adjacent low-key commercial and residential neighborhoods full of traditional, quirky little shops, particularly along the very tongue-in-cheek Yanaka Ginza (谷中銀座) shopping street. The area is best reached on the Metro Chiyoda line to Sendagi or the JR Yamanote Line to Nippori.



Sleep
Taito has Tokyo's best range of cheap to midrange accommodation. The listings below cover only more far-flung bits of the district, see Asakusa and Ueno for listings of hotels in the immediate vicinity of the two central stations.

Budget
The area around Minami-Senju (南千住) near the northern end of the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, formerly known as San'ya (山谷), has some of Tokyo's cheapest budget accommodation. The typical room is an individual tatami flat of 2 square-meters, with television and air-conditioning. The bedding is Japanese style (futon set and pillow).

Much of the accommodation here was originally designed to cater to itinerant day laborers looking for a cheap place to crash, but many have pivoted to serving foreign travellers instead. All hotels listed here cater regularly to backpackers and have some English ability. Just hop out at Minami-Senju and walk down south towards Meiji-Dori (Main road) on Route 464. The further away from the train station you walk the cheaper it gets. About ¥3,500 down to ¥2,100 for single, also ¥1,500 for dorms are available all along this street (Route 464).





Go next

 * Asakusa is a district of eastern Taito
 * Sumida ward is to the east, across the Sumida River
 * Ueno is a district of western Taito