# Ameyoko Market, Tokyo > Ameyoko is a noisy street market along and under the JR tracks between Ueno and Okachimachi stations. It has more than 250 shops: seafood, sweets, spices, cheap clothes and cosmetics, street food and tiny eateries under the viaduct. Entry is free. Shops usually open roughly 10:00 to 20:00. Ueno Park is right next door. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ameyoko - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 45 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Shops: More than 250 - Hours: Usually roughly 10:00–20:00, each shop its own - Closed: Some shops close on Wednesdays - What's here: Seafood, sweets, spices, clothing, street food - Getting there: JR Ueno or Okachimachi station — 1 minute - Coordinates: 35.71006, 139.77454 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **250+** — shops in the market (source: en.wikipedia) - **≈ 15,000 m²** — market area along the tracks (source: en.wikipedia) - **'Ameya'** — one theory traces it to sweet shops — 'ame' (source: en.wikipedia) - **JR Yamanote** — the market runs along and under this line (source: en.wikipedia) - **Ueno–Okachimachi** — the market links the two stations (source: en.wikipedia) - **New Year** — the busiest time — shopping for the holiday table (source: travel guides) - **Under the viaduct** — tiny eateries and izakaya (source: travel guides) - **¥0** — to enter the market (source: YesGo) ## What is Ameyoko? **Ameyoko** (full name **Ameya-Yokocho**, 'Ameya alley') is a street market in **Taito**, next to Ueno Station. It runs along and under the **JR Yamanote** viaduct to Okachimachi station and covers about 15,000 m², with more than **250 shops**. One theory says the name comes from sweet shops — 'ame' — which were once especially common here; sweets are still sold today. Now Ameyoko is a noisy bazaar selling **fresh fish and seafood**, dried goods, spices, tea, **cheap clothing** and cosmetics, with tiny **eateries and izakaya** tucked under the railway tracks. > **How to shop at Ameyoko** Prices vary a lot between shops — walk the market before you buy. Unlike much of Japan, vendors here call out loudly to shoppers, and towards evening some fish stalls cut their prices. Small shops prefer cash. Eat at the counter or in an eatery rather than on the move in the crowd. ## How the market works The main street runs along the tracks south from Ueno station towards Okachimachi, with narrow lanes and passages running parallel right under the viaduct. Food, clothing, shoes and cosmetics are all mixed together — the fun is simply walking along the tracks and peering into the passages. Shops usually open roughly 10:00 to 20:00, but each keeps its own hours and some close on Wednesdays. The busiest time is **late December**, when Tokyoites buy seafood for the New Year table and the market is packed. In the evening the lanterns of the eateries under the viaduct light up. ## What to eat and buy - **Fruit on a stick** — cut melon and pineapple. - **Yakitori skewers** and grilled seafood. - **Sashimi rice bowls** — kaisendon. - **Dried goods and spices**. - **Sweets** — a nod to the market's name. - **Izakaya under the tracks** — beer and snacks in the evening. ## How to get to Ameyoko 1. **JR Ueno station** — Shinobazu or Hirokoji exit, about 1 minute. 2. **JR Okachimachi station** — at the market's southern end, about 1 minute. 3. **Ueno-Hirokoji metro** (Ginza line) — about 3 minutes. 4. **Keisei-Ueno station** — about 3 minutes, handy from Narita. 5. **From Ueno Park** — down from Shinobazu Pond, about 5 minutes. ## Ameyoko or Tsukiji | | Ameyoko | Tsukiji | | --- | --- | --- | | Atmosphere | A noisy city bazaar | A food market | | What to buy | Food, clothing, cosmetics | Seafood, knives, tableware | | When | Day and evening | Morning to midday | | Evenings | Izakaya under the tracks | Mostly closed | ## How long do you need? Allow **45 minutes to an hour** to wander Ameyoko, or the whole evening with dinner at an izakaya. It's easy to come here after **Ueno Park** or the **Tokyo National Museum**, a few minutes away. From here it's an easy walk to **Akihabara** (about 15–20 minutes south), or back to Ueno station. ## Is Ameyoko worth visiting? Yes: it's Tokyo's liveliest market — vendors shouting, food smells and trains rumbling overhead, nothing like the quiet department stores. The YesGo take: many goods are ordinary, and weekend evenings are very crowded. Come for the atmosphere and street food rather than shopping — and drop into an eatery under the tracks. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Cash for small shops - [ ] Compare prices before buying - [ ] Not a Wednesday — more shops open - [ ] Eat at the counter, not on the move - [ ] Ueno Park before or after ## Tokyo markets: compare and choose Markets and shopping streets in Tokyo rated by YesGo. - [Akihabara](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/akihabara) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free - [Ginza](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ginza) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Senso-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free - [Takeshita Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/takeshita-street) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Tsukiji Outer Market](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tsukiji-outer-market) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Ameyoko](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ameyoko) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Toyosu Market](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/toyosu-market) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free ## Ueno in a day The Tokyo National Museum in the morning, a walk round Ueno Park in the afternoon, and Ameyoko market towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Tokyo National Museum](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-national-museum) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ¥1,000; students ¥500 2. [Ueno Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ueno-park) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · park free; zoo ¥600 3. [Ameyoko](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ameyoko) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free ## Good to know Ameyoko is the market by Ueno station; Ameya-Yokocho and Ameyoko are the same place. It's not Tsukiji market or the Toyosu wholesale market. ## Tips - Compare prices between shops. - Fish gets cheaper towards evening. - Cash for small shops. - In the evening — izakaya under the tracks. - Nearby: [Ueno Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ueno-park). ## Questions ### Where is Ameyoko market? Along the JR tracks between Ueno and Okachimachi stations. ### What are the hours? Shops usually open roughly 10:00 to 20:00, each with its own hours. ### Is there an entry fee? No, entry is free. ### What can I buy? Seafood, sweets, spices, cheap clothing and cosmetics. ### What should I try? Fruit on a stick, yakitori and sashimi bowls. ### When is it busiest? In late December and on weekend evenings. ### Why is it called Ameyoko? One theory says it's from sweet shops — 'ame'. ### How long do you need? 45 minutes to an hour, or the evening with dinner. ## How we checked The market's area, number of shops and the theory on its name are from Wikipedia; we leave out the second theory and the market's mid-20th-century history. The official site is being rebuilt. Shop hours and closing days are from guides and vary by shop; we mark them unconfirmed. Food and tips are from guides. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Ameya-Yokochō — area, number of shops, name theory - Travel guides — shop hours, closing days, food, New Year shopping (unofficial) - Official site ameyoko.net — being rebuilt (checked 09.11.2026) - Wikidata Q864815 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.