Asakusa: Senso-ji Temple, Matcha Making & Monjayaki Lunch

You'll Cook Your Own Lunch in an Asakusa Kitchen

You walk Senso-ji Temple and its surrounding shrines with a certified guide, sample traditional street food along Nakamise Street, make matcha at a tea house, then cook and eat monjayaki at a local restaurant. The tour includes lunch, a drink, and photos. Small groups, no need to arrange transport or figure out the temple protocol yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Thunder Gate20m
2. Hozomon Gatepassing by

Explore Asakusa and enjoy local food

• See Kaminarimon Gate
• Walk Nakamise Street and try sweets
• Visit Senso-ji Temple and pray
• Explore Asakusa Shrine nearby
• Pass by Hozomon Gate
• Relax at Japanese tea house with matcha
• Cook and eat monjayaki near Hoppy Street

The experience

The Thunder Gate appears suddenly as you round the corner: red lantern, carved wood, the whole thing smaller and more intimate than photos suggest. That's where the walk begins, with your MagicalTrip Certified Guide pointing out details most visitors miss: the way locals still bow at the gate, the seasonal decorations, the rhythm of the place before the crowds arrive. Senso-ji Temple sits just beyond, Tokyo's oldest temple, and you'll spend time here doing what Japanese people actually do (fortune-telling, praying, watching the ritual unfold) rather than just passing through. The guide explains the temple grounds, the Asakusa Shrine next door, and then you move into Nakamise Street, where over 300 years of vendors have sold everything from fans to sweets. You'll sample traditional Japanese snacks as you walk, the kind of thing that tastes different when someone who knows the neighborhood tells you where it came from.

After the temple, the pace shifts. You head to a quiet tea house tucked away from the main drag, and that's where you make matcha yourself: whisking the green powder into hot water, learning the actual technique instead of just drinking it. It's a small moment, but it changes how the tea tastes. Then comes the part that surprised me: you're heading into the backstreets near Hoppy Street to cook monjayaki, a savory pancake made from seasoned flour and whatever fillings the restaurant has that day. Your guide shows you how to mix and cook it on the griddle right in front of you, and then you eat it with the group. It's not a performance. It's lunch, and you made it.

The whole thing runs as a small group, which means you're not herding through Asakusa with thirty other people. MagicalTrip won the Best of the Best Award, and the guides are professionally trained and selected, so the explanations feel grounded rather than rushed. You get tour photos included, which is useful if you actually want to be in the pictures instead of always holding the camera. Vegetarian options exist for the monjayaki and okonomiyaki (the alternative lunch), though the company notes they can't guarantee allergy-free prep or handle gluten-free requests, since the food comes from partner kitchens. If you're traveling in summer, bring water and a hat: Asakusa gets crowded and hot.

What’s included

• Your day includes a MagicalTrip Certified Guide leading the walk through Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, and Nakamise Street with its 300-year history of vendors.
• You'll sample traditional Japanese snacks and sweets along the way, experience matcha making at a quiet tea house, and cook monjayaki (or okonomiyaki) at a local restaurant near Hoppy Street, where lunch and one drink are provided.
• Tour photos are included.
• Vegetarian options are available for the main meal.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except FridayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by MagicalTrip Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Asakusa temples and local food without figuring out the temple customs yourself or hunting for an authentic monjayaki spot. The guide handles the navigation and the restaurant is already chosen, which leaves you free to actually taste what's in front of you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is either okonomiyaki or monjayaki, plus one drink. Vegetarian options are available. The company cannot guarantee gluten-free or allergy-free preparation.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility issues?

The itinerary includes locations that are not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Some backstreets and temple grounds have uneven surfaces.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Vegetarian menus are available. The company cannot guarantee allergy-free or gluten-free meals, as food is prepared in partner kitchens outside their control. They will attempt substitutions where possible.

What is monjayaki?

A savory Japanese dish made from seasoned flour and various ingredients, cooked on a griddle. Similar to okonomiyaki but with a different texture and preparation style.

Is this tour suitable for beginners or first-time visitors to Tokyo?

Yes. The guide explains temple customs and neighborhood history, so no prior knowledge is needed. It's designed for all fitness levels.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes. In summer, bring water and a hat to prevent heat stroke, as Asakusa gets very hot and humid.

Who operates this tour?

MagicalTrip, a local company with the Certificate of Excellence. All guides are MagicalTrip Certified and professionally trained.