Shitamachi Wanderings: Yanaka
What to look out for as you wander about in Yanaka, Tokyo. Our recommendations for lunch, dessert, and more....
Yanaka is a middle-class neighbourhood that still retains its old-world shitamachi charms. Spared from WWII bombings and subsequent post-war urban development, the area is full of meandering alleyways, streetside gardens, and hidden shops nestled discreetly among residential buildings. Even though most residences have been modernised, the narrow streets are vivid reminders of the shape and feel of old Tokyo. Yanaka also has a number of businesses housed in traditional wooden buildings: some selling snacks like senbei and wagashi (so it isn’t too hard to feel yourself slipping back in time to a different era); some with more cosmopolitan offerings.
