Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade: Souvenir Shopping In Tokyo

Day 2: Sensoji temple, Asakusa in Tokyo - NAKAMISE DORI SHOPPING ARCADE, ASAKUSA IN TOKYO - Sumida River Cruise - Hibiya Garden - Imperial Palace and Gardens - Tokyo Tower

Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade, Asakusa in Tokyo

The Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, the place from where we started our tour in Tokyo, was beautiful... and equally beautiful and fascinating was the road that led us to it - the Nakamise dori shopping arcade.

Dating back to the eighteenth century, the Nakamise dori shopping arcade is a beautiful narrow lane spanning approximately 250 meters in length that includes around 89 shops in total.

The Nakamise dori shopping arcade and
far in the background, the Sensoji Temple

The arcade is an attraction in itself and grabs equal attention, if not more, of everyone visiting the Sensoji Temple. It stocks on display all kinds of touristy knick knacks and beautiful hand-crafted Japanese souvenirs like key chains, fans, T-shirts, handbags, hats and even kimonos for you to grab. Besides these, there are stalls selling food stuffs like Japanese biscuits, cookies and cakes, freshly baked and packed in front of your eyes. All these things are things that need to be seen and not spoken about, so... let's go -

Clothing and Accesories -

Hats and umbrellas are a common accessory, I observed, the Japanese generally use for protecting themselves against the harsh sun.

Hats: 3000 Yen ~ 2000 INR.

Kimonos

Purses: 1200 Yen ~ 850 INR.

Handbags: 2900 Yen ~ 2000 INR

Food - To pamper your tummies!

This is a Pancake Shop,
freshly baked pancakes are prepared (top pic) and sold (below pic),
then and there...

An ice cream kiosk set up somewhere in the arcade

Take Backs - Memorabilia like Japanese dolls, lantern shaped key chains, souvenirs like Hello Kitty show pieces, wall hangings and good luck charms - take your pick!

Japanese dolls: 2300 Yen ~ 1640 INR

Red lantern key chains: 500 Yen ~ 350 INR

Hello Kitty: 1000 to 1300 Yen ~ 700 to 1000 INR

Wall hangings lanterns: 700 Yen ~ 500 INR

Gift boxes: 1050 Yen (only box) ~ 750 INR;

                              1575 Yen (with confectionery) ~ 1100 INR

Random assortment of souvenirs

And finally... something for your feet,

Slippers: made of natural cane and bamboo material

950 Yen ~ 650 INR

Basically, if you wish to wrap yourself entirely in the Japanese colors from the head to the toe, stuff all your shopping bags with everything that spells Japanese and most importantly if you have enough Japanese Yen to splurge, then this arcade seems like the right place for you - it's got just about everything. What makes it even more fascinating is that there is no haggling, pushing or calling–in by any of the shopkeepers.

One can enjoy the complete experience of shopping at one's own pace in its entire limit even when the only intention might well be to just have a look at things and not actually take them back home. I myself must have peeped in a dozen of shops but restrained my shopping spirit from buying any of the stuff lest I empty my small sized souvenir shopping pocket on the first day of my sightseeing in Japan itself!

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.

2. Sunrise pictures from the flight to Japan

3. Review of Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, Tokyo

4. Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember 

5. SensoJi temple, Asakusa - Tokyo