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21-493: Ueno ( 上野 ) is a district in Taitō , Tokyo . The area extending from Ueno to Asakusa is part of the historical Shitamachi (literally "low city") district of Tokyo, which is often associated with working-class traditions and culture as well as their distinct accent. The Ueno area, in the strict sense, centres around Ueno Station , which has historically been the terminus for long-distance trains bound for northern Japan, such as

42-650: A considerable amount of disposable income and as result theaters and geisha houses began to spring up in nearby Asakusa. For most of the 20th century, Asakusa remained a major entertainment district in Tokyo. The rokku or "Sixth District" was in particular famous as a theater district, featuring famous cinemas such as the Denkikan . The golden years of Asakusa are vividly portrayed in Yasunari Kawabata 's novel The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa (1930). The area

63-502: A peculiarly Tokyo tradition, Asakusa hosts a major cluster of domestic kitchenware stores on Kappabashi-dori , which is visited by many Tokyoites for essential supplies. Next to the Sensō-ji temple grounds is a small amusement park called Hanayashiki , which claims to be the oldest amusement park in Japan. The neighborhood theaters specialize in showing classic Japanese films, as many of

84-546: Is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan . In English, it is known as Taitō City . As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 186,276, and a population density of 18,420 persons per km . The total area is 10.11 square kilometres (3.90 sq mi). This makes Taito ward the smallest of Tokyo's wards in area, and third-smallest in population. The ward was founded on March 15, 1947, with

105-407: Is also known for spices such as shichimi and sanshō . In a city where there are very few buildings older than 50 years because of the wartime bombing , Asakusa has a greater concentration of buildings from the 1950s and 1960s than most other areas in Tokyo do. There are traditional ryokan (guest-houses) and small-scale apartment buildings throughout the district. In keeping with

126-668: Is famous for its annual Brazilian style carnival . There is a significant Brazilian presence in the local community and the Association of Samba Schools of Asakusa is based there. Although there are many festivals throughout the year in Asakusa, the most famous of them is the Sanja Matsuri , also known as Sanja Festival, which takes place in May. In this festival, mikoshi (portable shrines) and floats are pulled through

147-521: Is famous for its typical Shitamachi districts. The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center provides amenities to both tourists and locals. Eiken Chemical , a clinical diagnostics and equipment manufacturer, has its headquarters in Taito. Tokyo Ricoh Office Solution and Ricoh Technosystems, divisions of Ricoh , are headquartered in Taitō as of 2008. Chikumashobo , a publisher, has its headquarters in

168-493: Is the origin of Orient Watch Co., Ltd. Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education . Taito City Board of Education operates public elementary and junior high schools. Ueno 1-4 and 6-chome and part of Ueno 5-chome are zoned to Kuromon Elementary School ( 黒門小学校 ). Ueno 7- chome is zoned to Ueno Elementary School (上野小学校). A portion of Ueno 5-chome

189-500: Is zoned to Heisei Elementary School (平成小学校). Ueno 1-2 chome is zoned to Ueno Junior High School ( 上野中学校 ). Ueno 4 and 7-chome and portions of 3 and 5-6-chome are zoned to Shinobugaoka Junior High School ( 忍岡中学校 ). Parts of Ueno 3 and 5-6 chome are zoned to Okachimachi Taito Junior High School ( 御徒町台東中学校 ). Private schools: 35°42′56″N 139°46′26″E  /  35.71547°N 139.77402°E  / 35.71547; 139.77402 Tait%C5%8D Taitō ( 台東区 , Taitō-ku )

210-701: The Blue trains and the Shinkansen . To the north, Ueno Park stretches to the area just behind the University of Tokyo 's Hongo Campus . Ueno Park houses some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum , the National Museum of Western Art , the National Museum of Nature and Science , and a major public concert hall. Numerous Buddhist temples can also be found in

231-502: The Edo period came about in part because of the neighboring district, Kuramae. Kuramae was a district of storehouses for rice, which was then used as payment for servants of the feudal government. The keepers ( fudasashi ) of these storage houses initially stored the rice for a small fee, but over the years began exchanging the rice for money or selling it to local shopkeepers at a margin. Through such trading, many fudasashi came to have

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252-535: The Kuramae ( 蔵前 ) area of the ward. Prefectural public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education . Private schools: The school district of the metropolis also operates one metropolitan junior high school: The Taito City Board of Education (台東区教育委員会) operates municipal elementary and junior high schools. Municipal junior high schools: Municipal elementary schools: Taito operates several public libraries, including

273-809: The Central Library, the Central Library Asakusabashi Branch, the Negishi Library, and the Ishihama Library. The Central Library is located in the first and second floors of the Lifelong Learning Center. The city operates the Lifelong Learning Center, a complex including a multi-media room, a studio, and other facilities. The Central Library is on the first and second floors of the Lifelong Learning Center. The City of Taito operates

294-568: The Taito Riverside Sports Center. The center includes a gymnasium, tennis courts, two baseball fields for adults, one baseball field for children, one large swimming pool, one children's pool, and an athletic field. The gymnasium includes two courts, two budo halls, a Japanese-style archery range, a sumo ring, a training room, a table tennis room, an air-rifle shooting range, and a meeting room. Asakusa The development of Asakusa as an entertainment district during

315-559: The low elevation of this old part of Tokyo, on the banks of the Sumida River . As the name suggests, the area has a more traditionally Japanese atmosphere than some other neighborhoods in Tokyo do. Asakusa has many restaurants and places to try traditional Japanese foods. One of the most popular treats is satsuma imo , sweet potatoes. Another special treat is chikuwa kamaboko , grilled fish cakes. The Suzuhiro store serves local craft beer with traditional kamaboko . Asakusa

336-568: The merger of the old Asakusa and Shitaya wards when Tokyo City was transformed into Tokyo Metropolis. During the Edo period , the Yoshiwara licensed quarter was in what is now Taitō. Taitō shares the same Chinese characters, "台東" with Taitung , a city in Taiwan . Situated in the northeastern portion of the wards area of Tokyo, Taitō is surrounded by five other special wards: Chiyoda , Bunkyō , Arakawa , Sumida and Chūō . Taitō

357-477: The modern Taito ward. The former ward encompassed 19 neighborhoods in the eastern half of Taitō. Asakusa is on the north-east fringe of central Tokyo, at the eastern end of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line subway, approximately one mile east of the major Ueno railway/subway interchange. It is central to the area colloquially referred to as Shitamachi , which literally means "low city," referring to

378-582: The park, including the Bentendo , dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten , on an island in Shinobazu Pond . The Kan'ei-ji , a major temple for the Tokugawa shōguns , also stands in this area, with its pagoda now located within the grounds of Ueno Zoo . Nearby is Ueno Tōshō-gū , a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu . The International Library of Children's Literature is also in the area. To

399-495: The south of the station lies Ameya-yokochō , a street market district that evolved from an open-air black market that sprang up during the privation following the Second World War, leading towards Okachimachi . Part of Ueno has also been known as a gay village since the Edo period , when the area had a large number of gay brothels. Ueno is the hometown of Yoshida Watch Shop, established in 1901 by Shogoro Yoshida. It

420-399: The tourists are elderly Japanese. Cruises down the Sumida River depart from a wharf a five-minute walk from the temple. Asakusa is Tokyo's oldest geisha district, and still has 45 actively working geisha. Because of its colourful location, downtown credentials, and relaxed atmosphere by Tokyo standards, Asakusa is a popular accommodation choice for budget travelers. The neighborhood

441-400: Was heavily damaged by US bombing raids during World War II, particularly the 10 March 1945 firebombing of Tokyo . The area was rebuilt after the war, but has now been surpassed by Shinjuku and other colorful areas in the city in its role as a pleasure district. Asakusa was a ward of Tokyo City . In 1947, when the city was transformed into a metropolis , it was merged with Shitaya to form

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