Asakusa

Temple area with traditional shops and tourist crowds during the day. Gets quiet and safe at night. Watch your stuff on crowded Nakamise Street.

Asakusa centers on Sensoji Temple with its big red lantern and Nakamise Shopping Street full of tourist snacks and souvenirs. The area has an old downtown feel with smaller streets and traditional shops. Locals have lived here forever. It's safe at night despite daytime tourist mobs - actually gets peaceful after sunset when the temple lights up and crowds thin out. Lots of solo tourists come for traditional culture. Food is mostly traditional Japanese, not international - yakiniku places with individual grills, ramen counters. Main streets have English signs because of tourists, but side streets are more local. The Sumida River runs along one side with walking paths. Rickshaws still run if you want that.