Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Asakura Museum of Sculpture
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, Asakura chōsokan • 7-18-10 Yanaka, Taitō-ku • Tues-Thurs, Sat & Sun 9.30am-4.30pm • ¥500 • Nippori station
he
Asakura Museum of Sculpture
, the lovely former home, studio and gardens of sculptor
Asakura Fumio (1883-1964), is one of Yanaka's many gems. It's filled with examples of his
work, the largest of which are presented in airy rooms with soaring ceilings.
Yanaka Ginza
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• Most shops closed Mon • Sendagi station
As you walk west from Nippori station, a flight of stone steps provides a wonderful
view down to the pedestrianized shopping street known as
Yanaka Ginza
. The antithesis
of trendy Tokyo malls, this appealing shopping promenade is worth exploring to find
small family businesses selling
geta
(wooden sandals), baskets, tea,
sembei
(rice crackers),
tofu and other food specialities, such as
menchikatsu
(deep fried breaded meat patties).
The Yanaka Matsunoya shop (see p.190) is definitely worth a visit.
Oguraya
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• 7-6-8 Yanaka, Taitō-ku • Wed-Sun 10am-5pm • Free •
T
03 3828 0562 • Nippori station
Off the western flank of Yanaka cemetery, and sitting on an attractive residential street,
is
Oguraya
, a pawnbroker's shop dating from 1847. It's now a gallery-cum-shop whose
lofty interior is often filled with traditional paintings; also of interest is the black-painted,
three-storey wooden
dozō
(storehouse), which is worth popping inside just to see this
lovingly preserved and increasingly rare type of architecture.
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