Tokyo Skytree is currently the world's tallest freestanding tower. It stands near Asakusa and Mukojima, two of Tokyo's best tourist destinations, which are more popular than ever since the tower opened in May 2012. The two districts face each other across the Sumida River.

The area offers the taste experiences of working-class people whose culture helped define the Edo period (1603-1867). That was when Japan's political life became centered on the metropolis now called Tokyo. Tokyo's traditional snacks are known for being simple and unpretentious yet quite substantial.

The preeminent icon of the Asakusa district is the Kaminari-mon Gate, which guards Senso-ji Temple. Pass through it and you are in the Nakamise Market, a long walkway lined with shops leading to the temple. Busy since the Edo period, it is one of Japan's oldest shopping districts. Here you will see handcrafts and souvenirs for sale, along with many kinds of specialty snacks and sweet foods. These include imo-yokan (a simple treat made from steamed, solidified sweet potato paste), ningyo-yaki (sponge cake in shapes like the five-storied pagoda and pigeons associated with the temple nearby), and senbei crackers (made by rolling out rice flour and then baking it with a little soy sauce for added flavor).

A 10-minute walk from Oshiage Station brings you to Jikken-bashi Bridge over the Kita Jikken-gawa River, a great spot to see the reflected sakasa (upside down) Tokyo Skytree.