Neighbourhood in Taito
Yanaka
谷中
One of the few corners of Tokyo where the old low-city atmosphere survives: temples, wooden houses, small shops and a large, leafy cemetery.
- places to see
- 4
- walk past the highlights
- 1.9 km
- Tokyo
- Taito
Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan (opens in a new tab), CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Yanaka, together with neighbouring Nezu and Sendagi (the three are often called Yanesen), is one of the few parts of Tokyo where the old shitamachi feel survives. It was spared much of the damage that hit the rest of the city, so you will find dozens of temples, wooden houses and family-run shops.
Start at Nippori Station, walk through Yanaka Cemetery, then down the steps to the small Yanaka Ginza shopping street for croquettes and snacks. From there it is an easy walk south to Ueno Park. More of the ward is in our Taito guide.
Don't miss in Yanaka
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Yanaka Cemetery
谷中霊園Leafy cemetery with a cherry tree avenue, quiet enough for a slow walk between Nippori and Ueno.
Photo: Multa (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)2. Tenno-ji Temple (Yanaka)
天王寺Temple on the cemetery's edge with a large bronze Buddha.
3. Asakura Museum of Sculpture
朝倉彫塑館A sculptor's home and studio with a water garden and rooftop views. One of Tokyo's most charming small museums.
4. Nezu Shrine
根津神社Shrine with a tunnel of red torii and an azalea festival in April, a ten-minute walk west.
Photo: Wiiii (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Walk Yanaka in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 1.9 km in all.
Stop 1
Yanaka Cemetery
Start here
Stop 2
Tenno-ji Temple (Yanaka)
3 min walk
Stop 3
Asakura Museum of Sculpture
4 min walk
Stop 4
Nezu Shrine
18 min walk
Yanaka on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
How do I get to Yanaka?
Take the JR Yamanote Line or the Keisei Line to Nippori Station and use the west exit. Sendagi Station on the Chiyoda subway line is also close.
Can I combine Yanaka with Ueno?
Yes. Yanaka Cemetery leads south towards Ueno Park in about 15 to 20 minutes on foot.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
More areas in Tokyo
- UenoTokyo's museum quarter around Ueno Park, with national museums, the zoo, temples, a lotus pond and the Ameyoko market street by the station.
- AsakusaOld Tokyo around Senso-ji temple, with the Kaminarimon gate, the Nakamise shopping street and the Sumida River on its east side.
- AkihabaraTokyo's Electric Town: the centre of anime, manga and game shopping, with electronics stores, arcades, maid cafes and the old Kanda Myojin shrine nearby.
- KagurazakaA sloping street from Iidabashi with stone-paved back lanes from its geisha days, old shrines and Tokyo's biggest cluster of French bakeries and bistros.
- RyogokuThe home of professional sumo, with the national sumo arena, training stables and chanko nabe restaurants on the east bank of the Sumida River.
- Oshiage (Tokyo Skytree)The old downtown area at the foot of Tokyo Skytree, with its shopping complex, an aquarium and a riverside walk to Asakusa.
- NihonbashiTokyo's old merchant quarter around the bridge where the Edo-period highways began, with Japan's first department store and long-running shops.
- IkebukuroBusy commercial hub of northern Tokyo around one of Japan's busiest stations, with Sunshine City, big department stores and anime shops.
