ASAKUSA Underground > 10 most popular Asakusa gifts
In a Japanese TV program ("Rankin no Rakuen"/ the paradise of the rankings / broadcasted on Jan 18th in 2008), they asked 203 tourists from abroad what they had bought for souvenirs / gifts at Asakusa.
Here are the result and the commentaries.
<NO.1>
Jika-tabi / rubber-soled "tabi" footwear, or field sneakers (28/203 persons, 12 different nationalities)
"I found them ideal to wear when I take my dog for a walk. Even if the dog pulls me hard, I can resist it well."
"When I saw the jika-tabis in a Japanese movie, I found them superb."
"They will be useful when I jog."
Some boys said, "I adore Ninjas. They wear them."
"I saw rikisha-men in front of Kaminarimon-gate. They wore them and I found it cool."
--At Naka-ya, a matsuri (traditional festival) specialist, the price of a pair of jika-tabis begin at 1,600 yen. Some people buy ten pairs of them. On a good day, they sell 50 to 60 pairs.
Asakusa Naka-ya
http://www.asakusa-nakamise.jp/shop-4/nakaya/e-index.html
1-31-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032
Tel. 03-3841-8530
9:00 - 20:00 no holidays
The shop is on Nakamise shopping street.
<NO.2>
Chochin / paper lanterns (24/203 persons)
"I have been studying Japanese culture, and think that a lantern is the most typical gift from Japan."
"I visited Akiba (Akihabara) just now, but I didn't see any of these there."
"I will place the lantern at the entrance of my house."
"I saw the big lantern at Kaminarimon-gate. That makes me feel like buying a small one."
--More than 40 shops deal in paper lanterns in Asakusa.
<NO.3>
Toy katana / toy sword (21/203 persons)
"I want be a samurai," say not only children but also some adults.
"I like Takeshi Kitano's film <Zatoichi>."
<NO.4>
Kimono
"It is about 3,000 yen. It is not too expensive."
"It's good for a dance party."
"It makes a nice gift."
--Many ladies buy kimonos. Some buy them in bulk.
<NO.5>
Men's underpants
"I can be a lady-killer."
"I will look good in them."
--There are some underpants with very Japanese-looking designs like Karakusa-moyou [an arabesque pattern].
--At Torankusu-ya [Trunks-ya / trunks shop], they boost more than 200 different and typically Japanese designs for their underpants.
Dragon print: 1,260 yen
A pair of underpants with a printed kitten inviting good fortunes: 1,260 yen
The most sought after underpants there are the ones with Japanese family crests (1,260 yen). Some says they look like Louis Vuitton's monogram.
Torankusu-ya [Trunks-ya]
http://www.trunks-ya.com/ (Check their Internet site, though it is in Japanese. There are plenty of underpants to choose.)
1-19-10 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032
Tel. 03-5806-3255
Fax. 03-5806-3256
E-mail info@trunks-ya.com
10:00 - 20:00 no holidays
Recently they moved the shop from the original location in front of Kamiya Bar. Now it is on Kannon Doori Street. Be careful. The shop is not on the ground level. It's upstairs.
<NO.6>
Ningyo-yaki / sweets which look like a doll
--They are grilled pancakes stuffed with sweet "an-ko" [made from Azuki beans]. They have some choices of cartoon characters.
"I am on diet, but I couldn't resist."
--More than 200 tourists a day taste Amazake [sweet sake] there. It is 100 yen for a glass. Though the drink is for children traditionally, it contains a little alcohol. It is delicious and nice to drink while walking around in Nakamise Street.
<NO.7>
Setta / Japanese wooden sandals
"It is typically Japanese."
"Useful for surfing."
"I will use them as slippers at home."
--Most men buy them for themselves, but most women purchase them for the gifts to their friends back home.
[Related articles]
・Take a bath in a Sento
Setta (geta) are stylish items to go to a sento.
<NO.8>
Edo Kiriko / Edo cut glasses
--Edo Kiriko is a style of glasswork, which started in Tokyo ("Edo" at that time) at the end of Edo period.
--At Ojima on Denpoin Doori Street, O-choko [a sake cup] sells well (2,000 yen or higher).
Ojima
http://www.edokiriko.jp/edokirikoojima-english.html
2-3-2 Asakusa, Tito-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3690-8866
Fax. 03-3604-6070
10:00 - 20:00 no holidays
The shop is on Denpoin Doori Street.
<NO.9>
Gundam figures
"I have been a great fan of those since I was a kid."
"There are many good toy shops in Asakusa. They have a wide range of toys and their prices are reasonable."
--The Gundam series have been broadcasted in over 50 countries. Many fans adore them because those robots are futuristic and the stories have profound messages to tell.
<NO.10>
Shichimi-togarashi / Seven flavours spice
"I tried it at a soba noodle joint. I liked the taste and bought some. I particularly like the container."
--At Yagenbori, a Seven flavours spice specialist, they mix them as you like. They ask you to smell your mix before you pay money in order not to surprise you with spiciness.
Yagenbori
http://www.asakusa-umai.ne.jp/umai/yagenbori.html (In Japanese)
1-28-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Tell.03-3841-5690
10:00 - 19:00 no holidays
[References in Japanese]
-Fucha log
http://www.kai78.com/archives/cat_1/post_8/
-Mainichi Hoso <Rankin no Rakuen>
http://www.mbs.jp/rankin/backno/20080118_1.shtml
-Wikipedia on Edo Kiriko
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B1%9F%E6%88%B8%E5%88%87%E5%AD%90
10 most popular Asakusa gifts
In a Japanese TV program ("Rankin no Rakuen"/ the paradise of the rankings / broadcasted on Jan 18th in 2008), they asked 203 tourists from abroad what they had bought for souvenirs / gifts at Asakusa.
Here are the result and the commentaries.
<NO.1>
Jika-tabi / rubber-soled "tabi" footwear, or field sneakers (28/203 persons, 12 different nationalities)
"I found them ideal to wear when I take my dog for a walk. Even if the dog pulls me hard, I can resist it well."
"When I saw the jika-tabis in a Japanese movie, I found them superb."
"They will be useful when I jog."
Some boys said, "I adore Ninjas. They wear them."
"I saw rikisha-men in front of Kaminarimon-gate. They wore them and I found it cool."
--At Naka-ya, a matsuri (traditional festival) specialist, the price of a pair of jika-tabis begin at 1,600 yen. Some people buy ten pairs of them. On a good day, they sell 50 to 60 pairs.
Asakusa Naka-ya
http://www.asakusa-nakamise.jp/shop-4/nakaya/e-index.html
1-31-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032
Tel. 03-3841-8530
9:00 - 20:00 no holidays
The shop is on Nakamise shopping street.
<NO.2>
Chochin / paper lanterns (24/203 persons)
"I have been studying Japanese culture, and think that a lantern is the most typical gift from Japan."
"I visited Akiba (Akihabara) just now, but I didn't see any of these there."
"I will place the lantern at the entrance of my house."
"I saw the big lantern at Kaminarimon-gate. That makes me feel like buying a small one."
--More than 40 shops deal in paper lanterns in Asakusa.
<NO.3>
Toy katana / toy sword (21/203 persons)
"I want be a samurai," say not only children but also some adults.
"I like Takeshi Kitano's film <Zatoichi>."
<NO.4>
Kimono
"It is about 3,000 yen. It is not too expensive."
"It's good for a dance party."
"It makes a nice gift."
--Many ladies buy kimonos. Some buy them in bulk.
<NO.5>
Men's underpants
"I can be a lady-killer."
"I will look good in them."
--There are some underpants with very Japanese-looking designs like Karakusa-moyou [an arabesque pattern].
--At Torankusu-ya [Trunks-ya / trunks shop], they boost more than 200 different and typically Japanese designs for their underpants.
Dragon print: 1,260 yen
A pair of underpants with a printed kitten inviting good fortunes: 1,260 yen
The most sought after underpants there are the ones with Japanese family crests (1,260 yen). Some says they look like Louis Vuitton's monogram.
Torankusu-ya [Trunks-ya]
http://www.trunks-ya.com/ (Check their Internet site, though it is in Japanese. There are plenty of underpants to choose.)
1-19-10 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032
Tel. 03-5806-3255
Fax. 03-5806-3256
E-mail info@trunks-ya.com
10:00 - 20:00 no holidays
Recently they moved the shop from the original location in front of Kamiya Bar. Now it is on Kannon Doori Street. Be careful. The shop is not on the ground level. It's upstairs.
<NO.6>
Ningyo-yaki / sweets which look like a doll
--They are grilled pancakes stuffed with sweet "an-ko" [made from Azuki beans]. They have some choices of cartoon characters.
"I am on diet, but I couldn't resist."
--More than 200 tourists a day taste Amazake [sweet sake] there. It is 100 yen for a glass. Though the drink is for children traditionally, it contains a little alcohol. It is delicious and nice to drink while walking around in Nakamise Street.
<NO.7>
Setta / Japanese wooden sandals
"It is typically Japanese."
"Useful for surfing."
"I will use them as slippers at home."
--Most men buy them for themselves, but most women purchase them for the gifts to their friends back home.
[Related articles]
・Take a bath in a Sento
Setta (geta) are stylish items to go to a sento.
<NO.8>
Edo Kiriko / Edo cut glasses
--Edo Kiriko is a style of glasswork, which started in Tokyo ("Edo" at that time) at the end of Edo period.
--At Ojima on Denpoin Doori Street, O-choko [a sake cup] sells well (2,000 yen or higher).
Ojima
http://www.edokiriko.jp/edokirikoojima-english.html
2-3-2 Asakusa, Tito-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3690-8866
Fax. 03-3604-6070
10:00 - 20:00 no holidays
The shop is on Denpoin Doori Street.
<NO.9>
Gundam figures
"I have been a great fan of those since I was a kid."
"There are many good toy shops in Asakusa. They have a wide range of toys and their prices are reasonable."
--The Gundam series have been broadcasted in over 50 countries. Many fans adore them because those robots are futuristic and the stories have profound messages to tell.
<NO.10>
Shichimi-togarashi / Seven flavours spice
"I tried it at a soba noodle joint. I liked the taste and bought some. I particularly like the container."
--At Yagenbori, a Seven flavours spice specialist, they mix them as you like. They ask you to smell your mix before you pay money in order not to surprise you with spiciness.
Yagenbori
http://www.asakusa-umai.ne.jp/umai/yagenbori.html (In Japanese)
1-28-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Tell.03-3841-5690
10:00 - 19:00 no holidays
[References in Japanese]
-Fucha log
http://www.kai78.com/archives/cat_1/post_8/
-Mainichi Hoso <Rankin no Rakuen>
http://www.mbs.jp/rankin/backno/20080118_1.shtml
-Wikipedia on Edo Kiriko
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B1%9F%E6%88%B8%E5%88%87%E5%AD%90