# Yanaka: temples, cats and old Tokyo streets

Yanaka is one of the few corners of central Tokyo where old wooden houses, small temples and narrow lanes still fill whole blocks. With neighbouring Nezu and Sendagi it is known as Yanesen, and it is a place to walk slowly: a snack street, a cemetery under cherry trees, cats in the alleys and galleries in old buildings. The list below is updated daily with markets and events in the area.

## What Yanaka is

Yanaka grew as a temple town in the Edo period on the ridge north of Ueno, and temples still line its lanes. The area escaped much of the damage from the 1923 earthquake and the great fires of later decades, which is why so many prewar houses, shopfronts and alleys remain. Yanaka itself is in Taito ward, while Sendagi and Nezu lie across the border in Bunkyo and Nippori Station in Arakawa.

Yanaka Cemetery opened in 1874 on land that had belonged to [Tennoji](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%A4%A9%E7%8E%8B%E5%AF%BA%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD7-14-8) temple and covers about 10 hectares. Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun, and the industrialist Shibusawa Eiichi are buried here, along with many painters and writers of the Meiji era and after.

## What to see

From the west side of Nippori Station the road leads to [Yuyake Dandan](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%A4%95%E3%82%84%E3%81%91%E3%81%A0%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E3%82%93%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E8%8D%92%E5%B7%9D%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%97%A5%E6%9A%AE%E9%87%8C3-13), a short flight of 36 steps known for its sunsets, and down into [Yanaka Ginza](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD%E9%8A%80%E5%BA%A7%E5%95%86%E5%BA%97%E8%A1%97%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD3%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE), a shopping street of about 170 m with some 60 small shops: croquettes and minced-meat cutlets, rice crackers, Japanese sweets and cat goods. One bakery sells doughnuts shaped like cats' tails.

[Yanaka Cemetery](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD%E9%9C%8A%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD7-5-24) spreads out on the other side of the station. Its central road, Sakura-dori, used to be the approach to Tennoji and is lined with cherry trees, and near it lie the foundation stones of [Tennoji's five-storey pagoda](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%A4%A9%E7%8E%8B%E5%AF%BA%E4%BA%94%E9%87%8D%E5%A1%94%E8%B7%A1%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD7%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE), which burned in 1957.

In the lanes between, look for [SCAI The Bathhouse](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=SCAI%20THE%20BATHHOUSE%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD6-1-23), a contemporary art gallery in an old public bath with its tiled roof still in place; [Kayaba Coffee](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%AB%E3%83%A4%E3%83%90%E7%8F%88%E7%90%B2%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD6-1-29&query_place_id=ChIJrdgn_9KNGGAR51pQCSVxBbI), a coffee house on a corner since 1938; and [Ueno Sakuragi Atari](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E6%A1%9C%E6%9C%A8%E3%81%82%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8A%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E6%A1%9C%E6%9C%A82-15-6), three wooden houses from 1938 turned into a beer hall, a bakery and small shops. The [Asakura Museum of Sculpture](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9C%9D%E5%80%89%E5%BD%AB%E5%A1%91%E9%A4%A8%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD7-18-10), the former house and studio of the sculptor Asakura Fumio, has a water garden, a roof terrace and plenty of cat sculptures: he kept many cats.

- Cats are part of the street life here. Let them be: no feeding and no picking them up.
- Some Yanaka Ginza shops sell food only to eat on the spot, so check before you order to go.
- The Asakura Museum has been closed on Mondays and Thursdays in recent years. [Check before you go](https://www.taitogeibun.net/english/asakura/).

- → [Museums and big exhibitions in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/museums.md)
- → [What to eat at a Japanese festival](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/festival-food.md)
- → [Art & Exhibitions events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/art.md)
- → [Food & Drink events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/food-drink.md)

## The year in Yanaka

From January 1 to 10 the Yanaka Shichifukujin pilgrimage, said to be the oldest of Tokyo's Seven Lucky Gods walks, links seven temples from [Shinobazu Pond](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%B8%8D%E5%BF%8D%E6%B1%A0%E8%BE%AF%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%922-1) in Ueno to Tabata, about 5 km on foot. The temples open their images and give stamps only on those days. In late March and early April the cemetery's cherry avenue turns pink; it is a cemetery, so people walk under the trees rather than hold picnic parties.

In April the azalea festival at [Nezu Shrine](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%A0%B9%E6%B4%A5%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%87%E4%BA%AC%E5%8C%BA%E6%A0%B9%E6%B4%A51-28-9), a short walk south, covers its slope with some 3,000 bushes. In October the neighbourhood holds Yanaka Matsuri, a local festival of stalls and games run by the town associations, around the same weekend as the Nezu Sendagi Shitamachi Matsuri.

The Yanaka antique market sets up in the car park of [Enmeiin](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%BB%B6%E5%91%BD%E9%99%A2%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E8%8D%92%E5%B7%9D%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%97%A5%E6%9A%AE%E9%87%8C3-10-1), an Edo-period temple with a huge old chinquapin tree, about once a month on a weekend or holiday. Dealers bring ceramics, tools, old kimono and small things; entry is free and it is cancelled in rain.

- → [New Year in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/new-year.md)
- → [Cherry blossom season in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/sakura.md)
- → [Nezu Shrine: torii tunnel, azaleas and Edo halls](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/nezu-shrine.md)
- → [Autumn festivals in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/autumn-festivals.md)
- → [Flea, antique and craft markets in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/flea-markets.md)
- → [Flea & Antique Markets events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/markets.md)
- → [Matsuri & Festivals events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/matsuri.md)

## Timing and manners

Yanaka is a residential area, and it is at its best on a weekday or early on a weekend morning, before the shopping street fills. Sunset is the busy hour on Yuyake Dandan. Most cafes and galleries open late in the morning, many small shops close one day a week, and the shopping street goes quiet by early evening.

Keep your voice low in the temple lanes and the cemetery, and don't walk onto graves or through closed temple gates for a photo. People still live in many of the old houses, so take pictures from the street and don't block doorways. Small shops and the antique market are often cash only, and bins are few, so keep a bag for wrappers.

- Come in the morning for empty lanes and soft light. Weekend afternoons are livelier and more crowded.
- Bring coins and 1,000-yen notes for snacks and the antique market.

- → [Taking photos at Tokyo events](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/photography.md)
- → [Tokyo on a budget: free things to do](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/budget.md)
- → [Going to events alone in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/solo.md)
- → [Free events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/free.md)

## Getting there and nearby

[Nippori Station](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=JR%20%E6%97%A5%E6%9A%AE%E9%87%8C%E9%A7%85%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E8%8D%92%E5%B7%9D%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%97%A5%E6%9A%AE%E9%87%8C2-19-1), on the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku and Joban lines, the Keisei line and the Nippori-Toneri Liner, is the usual start: Yanaka Ginza is about 5 minutes from the west exit. [Sendagi Station](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%88%E3%83%AD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E7%B7%9A%20%E5%8D%83%E9%A7%84%E6%9C%A8%E9%A7%85%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%87%E4%BA%AC%E5%8C%BA%E5%8D%83%E9%A7%84%E6%9C%A82-32-5) on the Chiyoda Line is about 5 minutes from the other end of the shopping street, and [Nezu Station](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%88%E3%83%AD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E7%B7%9A%20%E6%A0%B9%E6%B4%A5%E9%A7%85%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%87%E4%BA%AC%E5%8C%BA%E6%A0%B9%E6%B4%A51-3-5), one stop south, is close to Nezu Shrine.

Walk south through Ueno Sakuragi and you reach [Ueno Park](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E6%81%A9%E8%B3%9C%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%927-47), with Tokyo University of the Arts and the [Tokyo National Museum](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E5%9B%BD%E7%AB%8B%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%9213-9) on the way. A good half day: Nippori, the cemetery and temples, Yanaka Ginza, then along [Yomise-dori](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%88%E3%81%BF%E3%81%9B%E9%80%9A%E3%82%8A%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B0%B7%E4%B8%AD3%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE) to Sendagi and down to Nezu Shrine.

- → [Ueno and Yanaka: museums, parks and old streets](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/ueno.md)
- → [Nezu Shrine: torii tunnel, azaleas and Edo halls](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/nezu-shrine.md)
- → [Tokyo National Museum: galleries, garden and when to go](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/tokyo-national-museum.md)
- → [Events in Taito](https://eventstokyo.com/en/taito.md)
- → [Events in Bunkyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/bunkyo.md)
- → [Events in Arakawa](https://eventstokyo.com/en/arakawa.md)

## All events, soonest first

- **[Yanaka Antique Market](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/yanaka-antique-market-2)** — Sat, Dec 5, 2026 10:00 – Sun, Dec 6, 2026 (JST) · Enmeiin (Parking) (Arakawa) · Free entry
- **[Yanaka Antique Market](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/yanaka-antique-market)** — Sat, Nov 14, 2026 10:00 – Sun, Nov 15, 2026 (JST) · Enmeiin (Parking) (Arakawa) · Free entry
- **[Storytelling and Shamisen Performance: 'The Ash Man' at Yasuda Residence Garden](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/storytelling-and-shamisen-performance-the-ash-man-at-yasuda-residence)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 (JST) · Tokyo Scenic Spot Kyu-Yasuda Kusuo Residence Garden (Bunkyo) · price on the official site
- **[Rakugo at the Temple](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/rakugo-at-the-temple)** — Wed, Oct 28, 2026 11:00 (JST) · Kinrei-ji Temple (Taito) · Free entry
- **[143rd Nishi-Nippori.rb In-Person Work Session](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/143rd-nishi-nipporirb-in-person-work-session)** — Mon, Oct 26, 2026 20:05 (JST) · Nippori FRIENDS X (Arakawa) · price on the official site
- **[Special Exhibition: 'Kanchoro Poetry Gatherings—Mori Ogai and the World of Tanka Poets'](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/special-exhibition-kanchoro-poetry-gatherings-mori-ogai-and-the)** — Sat, Oct 10, 2026 – Mon, Jan 11, 2027 (JST) · Mori Ogai Memorial Museum (Bunkyo) · price on the official site

## Questions people ask

**What is Yanaka known for?**
Temples, old wooden houses, the Yanaka Ginza shopping street, cats and a cemetery lined with cherry trees.

**How do I get to Yanaka Ginza?**
Walk about 5 minutes from the west exit of Nippori Station via the Yuyake Dandan steps, or about 5 minutes from Sendagi Station on the Chiyoda Line.

**How much time do I need in Yanaka?**
Two to three hours for Yanaka Ginza, the cemetery and a few temples, or half a day if you add Nezu Shrine or Ueno.

**Can you see cherry blossoms in Yanaka Cemetery?**
Yes, usually in late March and early April along the central avenue. Picnic parties are not the custom there, so walk through quietly.

**When is the Yanaka antique market?**
About once a month on a weekend or holiday at Enmeiin temple. Dates change and it is cancelled in rain, so check the list on this page.

**Is Yanaka worth visiting?**
If you like walking and small streets, yes. There are no big sights, but it shows a lower, slower Tokyo that is hard to find elsewhere in the centre.

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Tokyo Events: https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/yanaka