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Yanaka, Tokyo

Narrow Yanaka Ginza shopping street with small shops, a food stall with people sitting outside and walkers
Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free — it's a city neighbourhood
Hours
Neighbourhood always open; shops usually roughly 10:00–18:00
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Yanaka Ginza
A short shopping street of family-run shops
Yuyake Dandan
The 'sunset steps' above Yanaka Ginza
Yanaka Cemetery
Cherry avenue in April — keep quiet
Route
Yanesen — Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi on foot
From Nippori station
≈ 5 minutes on foot, west exit
Coordinates
35.72379, 139.76842YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Shitamachione of the few areas with an old-Tokyo atmosphere
Sourceen.wikipedia
Yanesenthe name for a walk through Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi
Sourcetravel guides
≈ 10 haarea of Yanaka Cemetery
Sourceen.wikipedia
Cherry treescover the cemetery's central avenue in April
Sourceen.wikipedia
Yuyake Dandanthe 'sunset steps' — a view over Yanaka Ginza
Sourcetravel guides
SCAIa contemporary art gallery in a former bathhouse
Sourcetravel guides
Catsthe area is known for street cats and cat souvenirs
Sourcetravel guides
≈ 15 minon foot from Ueno Park
Sourcetravel guides

What is Yanaka?

Yanaka is an old neighbourhood in Taito, north of Ueno Park. It's one of the few corners of Tokyo where you can still feel the atmosphere of Shitamachi — the 'low city' of ordinary townspeople: narrow lanes, wooden houses, small temples and family-run shops.

It's usually explored together with neighbouring Nezu and Sendagi — a walk known as Yanesen. There are no skyscrapers or big malls, but there are street cats, craft shops, old cafés and a quiet that's rare in the capital.

How the neighbourhood works

From Nippori station the road leads to the Yuyake Dandan steps — the 'sunset steps', looking down on Yanaka Ginza. It's a short shopping street with stalls of fried croquettes, sweets, rice crackers and cat souvenirs.

South of the station is Yanaka Cemetery, covering about 10 hectares: in April the cherry trees completely cover its central avenue. Small temples hide among the lanes, and a former bathhouse holds the contemporary art gallery SCAI The Bathhouse.

What to see

  • Yanaka Ginza — a little shopping street with street food.
  • Yuyake Dandan — the 'sunset steps'.
  • The cherry avenue in Yanaka Cemetery.
  • Small temples in the side streets.
  • SCAI The Bathhouse gallery in a former bathhouse.
  • Nezu Shrine — 10–15 minutes away.

How to get to Yanaka

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. Nippori station (JR Yamanote and Keisei) — west exit, about 5 minutes to Yuyake Dandan.
  2. From Narita airport — the Keisei Skyliner straight to Nippori, about 40 minutes.
  3. From Ueno Park — about 15 minutes on foot to the north.
  4. Sendagi station (Chiyoda line) — at the other end of Yanaka Ginza.
  5. Nezu station (Chiyoda line) — to start the walk from Nezu Shrine.

Yanaka or Asakusa

Yanakayou are hereQuiet residential quarterLightLanes, shops, cherry treesWeekday afternoon
AsakusaBustling temple districtVery heavySenso-ji templeEarly morning

How long do you need?

Allow 1.5–2 hours for Yanaka, or half a day for the full Yanesen walk with Nezu and Sendagi. Start at Nippori station, walk down Yanaka Ginza and head on to Nezu Shrine.

In the evening you can watch the sunset from the Yuyake Dandan steps — hence their name — and walk back to Ueno Park.

Is Yanaka worth visiting?

Yes: it's a rare chance to see quiet, old Tokyo without crowds or neon, and to snack your way along Yanaka Ginza.

The YesGo take: there's no single 'big sight' here — the value is in the atmosphere. Come on a weekday afternoon when the shops are open, and don't expect spectacle.

Before you go: checklist

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Old Tokyo: compare and choose

Historic neighbourhoods and sites in Tokyo rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Tokyo Imperial Palace621 h 30 minfree4.8 km
Senso-ji511 hFree2.7 km
Zojo-ji4240 minFree7.6 km
Nezu Shrine3930 minFree14 min walk
Yanakayou are here361 h 30 minFree—
Kabuki-za351 h 30 minsingle act ¥1,600–10,800 (Nov 2026)6.0 km
Tokyo National Museum352 h¥1,000; students ¥50016 min walk
Gotoku-ji3245 minFree13.7 km

The Yanesen walk and Ueno

Ueno Park in the morning, Yanaka in the afternoon and Nezu Shrine towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Ueno Park1 h 30 min · park free; zoo ¥600
  2. 23 min walk from the previous stopYanakayou are here1 h 30 min · free
  3. 14 min walk from the previous stopNezu Shrine30 min · free; azalea garden paid in spring

3 places · about 4 h 7 min with walks · 37 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Nezu Shrine

Tokyo, Japan

30 min · free; azalea garden paid in spring · 14 min walk

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo, Japan

2 h · ¥1,000; students ¥500 · 16 min walk

Ueno Park

Tokyo, Japan

1 h 30 min · park free; zoo ¥600 · 23 min walk

Ameyoko

Tokyo, Japan

45 min · free · 28 min walk

How to do it right

  • Start from Nippori station.
  • Watch sunset from the Yuyake Dandan steps.
  • Bring cash for small shops.
  • Keep quiet in the cemetery and residential lanes.
  • Next: Nezu Shrine, 10–15 minutes away.

Questions

How do I get to Yanaka?

From Nippori station (JR, Keisei) — about 5 minutes on foot.

What is Yanesen?

A walk through the neighbouring areas of Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi.

What is there to see in Yanaka?

Yanaka Ginza, the Yuyake Dandan steps, the cherry avenue, temples and the SCAI gallery.

Is there a fee?

No, walking around is free.

When is the best time to go?

Weekday afternoons, when shops are open; April for the cherry blossoms.

Can you walk through the cemetery?

Yes, it's open for walks, but be quiet and respectful.

How long do you need?

1.5–2 hours, or half a day with Nezu and Sendagi.

What's nearby?

Ueno Park and Nezu Shrine.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: Yanaka Cemetery — area, cherry avenue, Shitamachi atmosphere
  • Travel guides (GO TOKYO, Tokyo Cheapo and others) — Yanaka Ginza, Yuyake Dandan, SCAI The Bathhouse, stations, cats (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q11632597 — coordinates
  • YesGo general facts for Japan — transport
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe neighbourhood has no official website. The cemetery's area, cherry avenue and Shitamachi atmosphere are from Wikipedia. The street, steps, gallery and stations are from guides. Each shop keeps its own hours, so we give approximate times. We don't cover the area's 20th-century history. We present the cemetery as a place for walks and cherry blossoms, without detail about burials.

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