Old-School Tokyo Shopping Street

Explore the delightful Amazakeyokocho Street in Tokyo, where you can experience the intense caramel aroma of freshly roasted hojicha tea and indulge in traditional Japanese sweets, tofu, taiyaki, and more. Take a stroll down this historic street, just an eight-minute subway ride from the Ginza, to nosh and immerse yourself in the local Japanese culture.

The intense, caramel aroma of freshly roasted hojicha tea is what first stopped me in my tracks on Amazakeyokocho Street. I was working on a cycling story last year when I rode down this old shopping street. I popped into the tea shop, where the storekeeper offered me a taste (delicious), and looked around. The tea shop was next door to the tofu shop. Up the street, a huge line of shoppers waited patiently for taiyaki. Next to the taiyaki shop stood another sweets shop, then a shop selling bamboo brooms and kitchenware, run by an ancient woman. One traditional shop after the other. When I checked my handy map, I couldn't believe this incredible street was just an eight minute subway ride from the glitz and bustle of the Ginza. I read that this area escaped damage during the war, so many of the original buildings are still intact. If you're in Tokyo, you shouldn't miss the Amazakeyokocho. Stroll down the street and nosh. That's what I just did, during a brief few hours in the city. (Take the Hibiya line to the Ningyocho Station, check the station map (with English) for Amazakeyokocho, easy to find.) Here are some pictures: