A warm Tokyo spot to experience Japan's shitamachi culture
【Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street】
Despite being just a few minutes' walk from the West Exit of Nippori Station in Taito City, Tokyo, Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street still preserves a somewhat nostalgic "shitamachi" townscape. Since its founding, it has upheld the mission of “passing on the culture of shopping streets to the next generation,” becoming a place loved not only by local residents but also by visitors. Along the approximately 170-meter-long street, about 60–70 independent shops stand side by side. Fishmongers, delicatessens, wagashi confectioners, daily goods stores, and other shops imbued with the fragrance of everyday life line the street, creating an atmosphere full of human warmth.
Top 3 Highlights
1. Streets where the Showa era still breathes
Walking through Yanaka Ginza, you may feel as if time has turned back a little. Wooden signboards, narrow alleyways, people chatting in front of shops…. These nostalgic scenes gently soothe the hearts of visitors.
2. Around 60 diverse shops and the joy of “eating while walking”
Along a short street of about 170 meters, a variety of shops come together: prepared dishes, fried foods, Japanese sweets, general stores, and more. Grabbing a freshly fried croquette or menchi-katsu and strolling in an “eating while walking” style is a uniquely Yanaka Ginza way to enjoy the area.
3. The famous “Yuyake Dandan” and scenes with cats
At the entrance on the Nippori Station side is a staircase called “Yuyake Dandan.” Come evening, the sky turns crimson and the entire street is bathed in warm light. The view of the shopping street from there is truly a “healing moment” in Tokyo.
Yanaka is also known as a “cat town.” As you walk through the shopping street and back alleys, you’ll often encounter cats basking in the sun. The tranquil scenes will naturally bring a smile to your face.
Facility Information
| Name | 谷中銀座商店街(Yanaka Ginza) |
| Address |
〒110-0001 東京都台東区谷中3-9-15 ヴァナディール谷中102 |
| Access |
JR山手線、常磐線、都営舎人線、私鉄京成線 ・5-minute walk from Nippori Station 営団地下鉄 千代田線 ・5-minute walk from Sendagi Station |
| Hours and regular holidays | ※ Note: Because each shop is managed differently, please contact each store directly. (Store list is here) |
| Fees |
Free (no inspection fee) Visits are free, but we may not be able to accommodate depending on the schedule and number of people. |
| Sen-chan Shopping Stamp 100 |
At participating stores, you receive 1 stamp for every ¥100 spent; collect 50 stamps to use them as a ¥100 voucher. For details, click here |
| Official website | https://www.yanakaginza.com/ |
Other recommended information
Throughout the year, Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street hosts community-focused events.
🔸 At the beginning of the year, the "Yanaka Seven Lucky Gods Tour & Shopping Street Tour" features raffle draws and mochi-pounding events.
🔸 In summer, the "Yanaka Hyakkoi Festival" offers Bon Odori, stamp rallies, loach scooping, summer raffles, and more.
🔸 In July and December, the "Grand Thanksgiving Festival" livens up the street with double-stamp sales and raffle promotions.
🔸 Several times a year, the "Bikkuri Market" offers one-hour-only special prices and services, delivering surprises to visitors.
Through seasonal events, warm exchanges are fostered between locals and visitors.
References
- Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street official site: https://www.yanakaginza.com/
BASIC INFORMATION
| Name |
谷中銀座商店街 (ヤナカギンザショウテンガイ) |
|---|---|
| Address | 東京都台東区谷中3-9-15 ヴァナディール谷中102 Access |
| Phone | 03-6273-2544 |
| Official URL | https://www.yanakaginza.com/ |
FACILITY INFORMATION
- Children
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Children welcome
- Other
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Near the station -
Recommended for families -
Recommended for couples -
The sunset is beautiful
Nearby events
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4.60 km
Check RouteChiyoda City Lecture & Culture2026.07.10(金)–09.06(日)Come and discover a side of Pingu you’ve never seen! At YURAKUCHO MUSEUM, the exhibition “Not just cute!? Pingu” will be held. This exhibition lets you enjoy the charm of the clay animation “Pingu,” loved around the world, through rare materials and interactive displays. Created in 1980 as a clay animation by Swiss filmmaker Otmar Gutmann, “Pingu” has shared warm, humorous stories about the penguin boy Pingu and his friends that have been cherished worldwide. With “amusement park” as its theme, the exhibition showcases valuable clay models used in actual production, early studio records, storyboards, and other production materials. By seeing, touching, and experiencing, you can enjoy Pingu’s rich expressions, the unique movements and forms of clay, and the mysteriously communicative “Pingu language,” discovering charms you never knew. The exhibition runs from July 10 (Fri), 2026 to September 6 (Sun). The venue is YURAKUCHO MUSEUM in Yurakucho, Tokyo. Open daily during the period; regular hours 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:30. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, as well as on July 10 (Fri) and August 10 (Mon)–14 (Fri), it is open until 20:00, with last entry at 19:30. Exhibition highlights Exhibits of rare clay models and production materials On display are clay models used in actual animation production, along with valuable materials such as early studio records and storyboards. You can appreciate the craftsmanship unique to stop-motion animation and get a sense of the process by which Pingu’s world is created. “Not just cute!?” Experience Pingu’s many charms The exhibition also features plenty of playful, hands-on exhibits. Through these experiences, you can savor Pingu’s deeper charms: expressive faces that convey a full range of emotions, the distinctive movements unique to clay animation, and the mysteriously expressive “Pingu language.” Collaboration with miniature photographer and mitate artist Tatsuya Tanaka The exhibition will also include a collaboration with miniature photographer and mitate artist Tatsuya Tanaka. In addition to debuting three Pingu works previously shared on social media, new pieces created for this exhibition are scheduled to be displayed at the venue. Playful miniature expressions let you enjoy a new world of Pingu. A fun exhibition space with an “Amusement Park” theme The exhibition theme is “Amusement Park”. In an atmosphere enjoyable for everyone from children to adults, you can explore Pingu’s history, the characters, and the origins of the work. Recommended both for those who feel nostalgia and for those encountering Pingu for the first time. What is Pingu? “Pingu” is a stop-motion animation born in Switzerland. Since a prototype test film was produced in 1980, it celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2025. Since 1990, the TV series has been broadcast in more than 155 countries and regions, and its warm, humorous stories are loved around the world. Recommended for Recommended for fans of Pingu, those looking for an exhibition parents and children can enjoy together, and those interested in clay animation or character displays. Enjoy not only the cuteness but also the expressions, movements, and behind-the-scenes of the production. ※Open every day during the exhibition period. ※Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. ※On weekends and holidays, and on July 10 (Fri) and August 10 (Mon)–14 (Fri), open until 20:00. ※Please check the official website for ticket prices and sales information. ※Exhibition contents and opening hours are subject to change. For the latest information, please check the official website. ©2026 JOKER.
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4.89 km
Check RouteSumida City Store events2026.10.23(金)We will hold the 4th IKIJI Yose at the IKIJI STORE in Ryogoku. Once again, we welcome Master Kokontei Engiku and invite you to enjoy rakugo inside the IKIJI STORE. Whether you are new to rakugo or a longtime fan, everyone is welcome. In the uniquely intimate space of IKIJI STORE, where the distance to the performer is close, please enjoy Master Kokontei Engiku’s storytelling up close. 【Performer】 Kokontei Engiku 【Time & Admission】 19:00 – ¥2,000 20:00 – ¥1,500 *There will be no audience turnover. Guests attending from the 19:00 performance may also stay for and enjoy the 20:00 performance. 【Venue】 IKIJI STORE Sumida-ku, Tokyo 【Organizer】 IKIJI 【How to apply】 Advance reservation is required. Please apply via the Google Form below. https://forms.gle/Qftav12qpczK3gL26 We sincerely look forward to your visit.
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15.89 km
Check RouteOta Ward Gourmet2026.09.26(土)On Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Ota City Industrial Plaza PiO, we will host a large networking event exclusively for people in their 20s and 30s, 「蒲田BIG恋活フェス」! Beyond matching apps, we want to create a place to meet where people can actually see each other face to face and talk naturally while sharing the same time and space. With that in mind, this is a community-based dating event planned to be held in Kamata. “In everyday life, there are few opportunities to meet new people” “It’s hard to grasp someone’s vibe through a matching app” “Formal marriage-hunting parties make me a bit nervous” We aim to offer a casual networking event that helps people in their 20s and 30s take the first step with ease. The venue is about a 3-minute walk from Keikyu Kamata Station. It’s a standing, free-mingling style event for up to 250 people, where you can socialize while enjoying light snacks and all-you-can-drink. It’s not a format where you talk to assigned partners in turn. You can move freely around the venue and enjoy conversations at your own pace with anyone who interests you. First-timers and solo attendees are very welcome! You can also join with friends. Of course, those looking for a partner are welcome, and so are those who “just want to talk to new people first.” Please feel free to join us.
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MAP & ACCESS
・5 minutes on foot from Nippori Station
Eidan Subway Chiyoda Line
・5 minutes on foot from Sendagi Station