Asakusa Street Food: 10 Best Street Snacks and Desserts

Asakusa, a historical district in Tokyo, is also a haven for street food lovers. Between the iconic landmarks of Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, you’ll find plenty of reasons to stop for a snack, from the cute fish-shaped taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes filled with sweet red bean paste) to freshly made mochi.

Join as we explore the very best of Tokyo street food you can discover in the stunning, heritage-filled streets of Asakusa.

Asakusa is one of Tokyo’s most historic districts, visited by many for its combination of traditional Japanese architecture and landmarks (such as Senso-ji Temple), the lively street foods stalls of Nakamise Shopping Street, and a wealth of cafes and restaurants.

It is based in Tokyo’s Taito City area, taking around 30 minutes by train to get there from Tokyo Station.

For a better look into Asakusa’s must-see spots and must-try street foods — join Shizuka in this Asakusa street food video or keep reading… 

Chances are you already know the world-famous Japanese mochi, a type of rice cake that uses glutinous rice to create a chewy, stretchy exterior wrapped around a tasty filling. The classic is a filling of subtly sweet red bean paste, but you’ll find all kinds of mochi fillings, including fresh fruit, seasonally flavored creams and so much more.

Find out more: What is Mochi? Beginner’s Guide with 17 Types of Mochi

Melon pan is called so for its unique look and gentle melon flavoring. With its crunchy, sugary exterior and soft, bready interior, it’s a Japanese snack staple.

There are many flavors and varieties of melon pan nowadays, including chocolate, matcha, coffee and custard or cream-filled options. See how many you can taste while you’re in Japan!

Find out more: Melon Pan: Why Are People Crazy About This Melon-Shaped Bread?

Anmitsu is one of the more traditional Japanese desserts on this list, making it perfect to try in Asakusa while looking at the awe-inspiring Senso-ji Temple in the distance.

It combines small cubes of agar jelly with red bean paste, boiled peas, fruits and a sweet, treacle-y black syrup. It is very Japanese in that it’s not overly sweet and it relies on red beans and fresh fruit to give it a gentle flavor.

If you’re in Japan during the summer, you’ll want to get acquainted with this refreshing Japanese street food. Kakigori is simply shaved ice topped with fruit syrups, condensed milk, fresh fruit, azuki bean paste and pretty much any other tasty topping you can think of.

Find out more: Kakigori Guide: Best Shaved Ice Flavors and Toppings

Takoyaki is another popular Japanese street food you may have already had the pleasure of trying. Hailing from Osaka, it’s a piping-hot snack that places octopus inside a mix of picked ginger, chives and wheat flour batter.

After being cooked in a specific takoyaki mold and slathered takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and dried seaweed flakes, you get a bite-sized delight that’s at once crispy on the outside and chewy in the center.

Even though it may be an Osakan specialty by origin, there are still plenty of places to try takoyaki in Tokyo, including Asakusa!

Find out more: Japanese Street Food Guide: Takoyaki (Octopus Balls)

Yakisoba is a popular stir-fry dish that’s also found in Asakusa — and, in fact, anywhere you find street food in Japan! It takes wheat noodles and fries them up with meat, seafood, bean sprouts, cabbage and other ingredients, depending on what you like. 

It’s covered in a yakisoba sauce that is both sweet and savory, and it’s a must-try street food for a filling, on-the-go snack.

Find out more: The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Noodles

Much like Senso-ji Temple, taiyaki is a street food that is practically begging to be photographed. Shaped like fish, filled with sweet red bean paste or custard, and sitting somewhere between a cake and a waffle in texture, this chewy delight is fun for all ages!

Find out more: All About Taiyaki: Japan’s Fish-Shaped Sweet Treat

For an Asakusa dessert that is perhaps a little harder to find elsewhere, opt for a ningyo-yaki. Though very similar to the taiyaki above in terms of texture and filling, the ningyo-yaki has a unique history and mold that’s sure to intrigue.

These treats normally come in the form of the shichifukujin (seven gods of good luck), and though it's said that their place of origin is Ningyocho, Tokyo, they can also be found in Asakusa. If you buy a few and look closely, you may even notice that the faces are slightly different, meant to represent the different gods.

Learn about ningyo-yaki with byFood host Shizuka Anderson.

You can find traditional wagashi sweets all over Tokyo, and they’re especially popular in an area of history and culture like Asakusa. Often best served with the bitterness of matcha, the subtle sweetness and seasonal motifs of wagashi are sure to make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.

Join Shizuka as she visits three traditional wagashi shops in Asakusa.

Find out more: What Is Wagashi? A Look at Japan’s Traditional Sweets

Manju (steamed buns with fillings) is another tasty Japanese snack that’s perfect for those on-the-go moments. Although there are many dense manju that are more traditionally filled with ingredients like red bean or chestnut paste, there are also modern versions, such as those you might find in konbini (convenience stores), filled with cheesy pizza, curry or matcha chocolate.

You can give these a try after experiencing the more traditional tastes of Asakusa manju.

For a guided tour through the splendor of Asakusa and its street food, this four-hour walking tour will take you to the breathtaking Senso-ji Temple, through Sanrio Gift Gate and stopping off along the way for street foods and desserts like ice cream, matcha and melon pan.

You’ll even get to experience the traditional Japanese food of yakiniku grilled meat, featuring the delectable A5-grade wagyu beef that Japan is famous for.

This alternative walking tour of Asakusa takes you through many of the same iconic Asakusa landmarks — such as Senso-ji Temple and the lively Nakamise Shopping Street leading up to it — but it includes even more street foods and snacks!

You’ll duck and dive between local eateries and street food stalls to get a taste of taiyaki, jumbo melon pan, fried manju, ningyo-yaki and more, totalling around eight traditional snacks and Japanese sweets.

Take to the saddle in this Asakusa bike tour, helping you take in a few more sights while making plenty of stops to indulge in more street foods and traditional Japanese desserts. 

You’ll cycle through the charming backstreets of Asakusa with a local guide, swinging by Senso-ji Temple and Ryogoku Sumo Stadium on the way, of course, before slowing down for a few local delicacies.

Try sakura mochi (a pink mochi rice cake wrapped in a pickled sakura leaf), warabimochi (dumplings dusted with soybean powder), takoyaki (grilled octopus dumplings) and imokin (sweet potato cakes.

Note: This tour can accommodate travelers with gluten-free or pescatarian diets. Please inquire upon booking.

In the center of Tokyo, almost undisturbed by decades of modern change, is Asakusa. Explore this historic district with a multilingual guide, taking you to Asakusa’s must-see sights like Sensoi Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street.

On the way, try out all manner of Japanese street food, including Japanese beef, sushi, tempura, snacks and desserts. Good news — kids can join for free! Just let your host know how many kids will be joining when you book and get excited for a family day out in Tokyo.

Find out more: 21 Best Things to Do in Asakusa: Tokyo's Traditional Gem

Been searching for vegan street food and desserts in Japan? Look no further than this unforgettable Asakusa vegan dessert tour, hitting all the same landmarks as the tours above while giving you a few more plant-based treats to enjoy.

Try the traditional and often vegan wagashi, using ingredients like azuki (red bean paste) or rice flour — and often baring beautiful, seasonal motifs — alongside whatever the season calls for; expect sakura mochi in the spring and sweet potato in the fall.

You’ll also make a stop at a cozy little cafe for another vegan dessert before making one final stop for, you guessed it, one last vegan sweet!

Learn about traditional Japanese culture without sacrificing your own. In this halal-friendly food tour of Asakusa, you’ll be taken to Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street and have a chance to appreciate this historic district before getting to the good stuff: Food.

First stop is a delicious Halal ramen shop, followed by Asakusa-style Halal sushi and the crispy crunch of battered and fried Halal tempura. Next, grill up your own Halal yakiniku meats before digging into takoyaki, Osaka’s most famous street food. 

To end your tour of Asakusa on a sweet note, you’ll get to try a few Halal-friendly Japanese sweets from the traditionals stalls dotted all around this must-visit area.

If Asakusa’s charm has captured your attention, take a look at things to do, Asakusa’s best cafes, food tours and cooking classes, and even the best restaurants in the area, including the Michelin-starred Hommage.

Nakamise Shopping Street is famous for its lively street food stalls and charming souvenir shops, leading from Kaminarimon Gate to the Hozomon gate of the Senso-ji Temple. It's a perfect spot for buying presents or trying out a few street foods in Asakusa.

It's hard to say for sure, but one of the most famous street foods in Japan must be takoyaki. It's now found throughout Japan, is always delicious, and is a perfectly bite-sized, on-the-go snack while exploring.

Most shops in Nakamise Shopping Street are open from 10 am to 7 pm, though some open as early as 8 am.