How to get to Asakusa. Does the JR Pass cover Asakusa?

side trip
Sensoji Temple
2020.07.25
Nakamise street has lots of shops on the road to Senso-ji temple in Asakusa. ©Taito City/©JNTO
Nakamise street has lots of shops on the road to Senso-ji temple in Asakusa. ©Taito City/©JNTO

Asakusa (浅草) is one of most popular tourist places in Tokyo. There is Senso-ji, Buddhist temple. We also have some more temples and many Japanese souvenir shops.

Asakusa is known as the terminal station of Tobu Railway. Tobu Railway connects Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Nikko and Kinugawa Onsen. You may come to Asakusa to take Tobu Railway.

Asakusa is nice place to stay too. But if you access from downtown Tokyo, such as Tokyo, Shinjuku station, the JR pass does not cover the access to Asakusa because JR does not have a station in Asakusa. You have to take Tokyo Metro to get to Asakusa. The Metro and other subway lines are not covered by the JR Pass.

In this post, I will show you how to access to Asakusa from major stations in Tokyo by the JR Pass. If you use JR East Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass, Hokuriku Arch Pass, JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can use same way.

Overview

Please see the train route map below. This map shows only major stations, transfer points and some major lines.

Asakusa route map
Click to view large.

The JR Pass and other JR deals cover only green bold lines. But you have to take Tokyo Metro Ginza line or Toei Subway Asakusa line to get to Asakusa. Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway are not covered by the JR Pass and any other JR deals. Just try to minimize rinding subway and try to take JR trains as much as you can. It is the easiest way to save a cost for the JR Pass and other JR deals user.

The transfer points are Ueno, Kanda and Asakusabashi. Asakusabashi seems to be closer to Asakusa but it is not in Asakusa. It is still two stations away by Toei Subway.

I recommned you to take Tokyo Metro Ginza line from Kanda or Ueno. I do not recommend you to take Toei Subway Asakusa line because the location of Asakusa station of Tokyo Metro Ginza line is better than Toei Subway Asakusa line’s station. It is closer to the center of Asakusa.

From Tokyo station to Asakusa

If you stay near Tokyo station, you may follow this route. And also if you arrive in Tokyo station by the Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima and want to get Asakusa, you can use this access route too.

  1. Take either Yamanote line or Keihin Tohoku line to Kanda. It is only one station away from Tokyo. It takes only a few minutes to get to Kanda from Tokyo.
  2. After arrival at Kanda, exit from the north ticket gate. Don’t go to south ticket gate.
  3. After exit from the north ticket gate, you will see the stairs to Tokyo Metro Ginza line Kanda station. It takes about 5 minutes to transfer at Kanda.
    The JR Pass and other JR deals cover your trip until you get to Kanda.
  4. Take Tokyo Metro Ginza line train to Asakusa. Asakusa is the last station. You cannot miss it. It takes only 10 minutes from Kanda. The fare is 170 yen.

You may change trains at Ueno too. But Kanda station is much smaller than Ueno. And it is easier to change trains at Kanda. Please watch the movie below. You will know how easy it is:

If you do not use JR Pass or other JR deals

You can walk to Otemachi station of Tokyo Metro Tozai line. Otemachi station is within walking distance from Tokyo station. Take Tozai line to Nihombashi. Nihombashi is one station away from Otemachi. Transfer to Tokyo Metro Ginza line at Nihonbashi. Asakusa is the last station. It takes 25 minutes and the fare is 280 yen.

Please watch the movie below. You will know how to get to the Metro Otemachi station from JR Tokyo station:

YouTube
www.youtube.com

From Ueno station

If you stay near Ueno station, all you have to do is just hopping on Tokyo Metro Ginza line to get to Asakusa. And also if you arrive in Ueno by the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shikansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the Joetsu Shinkansen, the Akita Shinkansen, the Yamagata Shinkansen and want to get to Asakusa, you may get off a train at Ueno. And you may take this route too.

  1. If you arrive in Ueno by the Shinkansen, the Shinkansen platform is located underground. Take the escalator to get the ground floor.
  2. Go through Shinkansen transfer gate and exit from the central gate. You will find the stairs and escalator to Tokyo Metro Ginza line on your left side.
  3. Take Tokyo Metro Ginza line to Asakusa. Asakusa is the last station. You cannot miss it. It takes only 5 minutes from Kanda. The fare is 170 yen.
    The JR Pass and other JR deals cover this subway trip.

Please watch the movie below. You will know how to get to the Metro Ginza line Ueno station from JR Ueno station:

From Shinjuku station

  1. Take Chuo line to Kanda. It takes 13 minutes to get to Kanda from Shinjuku.
  2. After arrival at Kanda, exit from the north ticket gate. Don’t go to south ticket gate. It takes only a few minutes to get to Kanda from Tokyo.
  3. After exit from the north ticket gate, you will see the stairs to Tokyo Metro Ginza line Kanda station. It takes about 5 minutes to transfer at Kanda.
    The JR Pass and other JR deals cover your trip until you get to Kanda.
  4. Take Tokyo Metro Ginza line train to Asakusa. Asakusa is the last station. You cannot miss it. It takes only 10 minutes from Kanda. The fare is 170 yen.

If you do not use the JR Pass or other JR deals

There are many routes available. But Chuo line to Kanda and Tokyo Metro Ginza line route is still the best. You can get to Asakusa from Shinjuku by Tokyo Metro only. But total fare is not much difference. And there are many subway stations in Shinjuku. It is hard to find a right one. JR station is the biggest station in Shinjuku. But once you get to JR Shinjuku station, it is not hard to find Chuo line platform.

This is reason why I still recommend you to take Chuo line to Kanda and Tokyo Metro Ginza line to Asakusa.

From Shinagawa station

  1. Take Yamanote line or Keihin Tohoku line to Kanda. It takes 15 minutes to get to Kanda.
  2. After arrival at Kanda, exit from the north ticket gate. Don’t go to south ticket gate. It takes only a few minutes to get Kanda from Tokyo.
  3. After exit from the north ticket gate, you will see the stairs to Tokyo Metro Ginza line Kanda station. It takes about 5 minutes to transfer at Kanda.
    The JR Pass and other JR deals cover your trip until you get to Kanda.
  4. Take Tokyo Metro Ginza line train to Asakusa. Asakusa is the last station. You cannot miss it. It takes only 10 minutes from Kanda. The fare is 170 yen.

If you do not use JR Pass or other JR deals

You may take Keikyu Railway from Shinagawa. Most Keikyu Railway train go through Toei Subway Asakusa line. Keikyu Railway’s track and Toei Subway Asakusa line’s track are connected at Sengakuji. You can get Asakusa directly by Keikyu Railway – Toei Subway Asakusa line direct train service.

The trip time is around 20 minutes and the fare is 420 yen.

From Ikebukuro station

  1. Take Yamanote line to Ueno. It takes 17 minutes to get to Ueno.
    The JR Pass and JR deals cover your trip untlil you get to Ueno.
  2. After arrival at Ueno, exit from the central ticket gate. Don’t go to south ticket gate. It takes only a few minutes to get to Kanda from Tokyo.
  3. After exit from north ticket gate, you will see the stairs to Tokyo Metro Ginza line Kanda station. It takes about 5 minutes to transfer at Kanda.
    JR Pass and other JR deals cover your trip until you get Kanda.
  4. Take Tokyo Metro Ginza line train to Asakusa. Asakusa is the last station. You cannot miss it. It takes only 10 minutes from Kanda. The fare is 170 yen.

If you do not use the JR Pass or other JR deals

The above route Yamanote line and Tokyo Metro Ginza line via Ueno is still the best one. The fare for Yamanote line from Ikebukuro to Ueno is 170 yen.

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

For more information about the train network in downtown Tokyo

Please also refer the post below to learn more about the train system in downtown Tokyo.

Guide to take trains in Tokyo. How to choose the best deal and the best route by the train.
There are so many train lines and subway lines in downtown Tokyo. It is hard to find the route and the coverage of many deals. This guide shows you the train system, how to find the route and how to choose the deals.
jprail.com
2016.01.24

I hope this post helped you to get to Asakusa more smoothly.

Comments

  1. Eva says:
    April 22, 2015 at 5:42 am

    Hello
    I am writing in to check if I should purchase a JR pass for my Dec trip for 3 adults and 1 child (11).
    We will be there on 28/11 to 7/12.
    My plan is as follows:
    28/11 – arrive at Hanade airport and transfer to Tokyo at hotel sunroute- will stay at shinjuku
    29/11 – mt Fuji and Gotemba Outlet
    30/11 – Disneyland
    1/12 – Disney Sea
    2/12 – fish market, Tokyo tower, shopping at shinjuku
    3/12 –
    4/12 – Tokyo to Kyoto check in hotel then to bamboo grove and near by shrines
    5/12 Kyoto to Osaka
    6 – 7/12 Osaka before going back to Japan narita airport
    My question:
    1) should I purchase a 7 days JP rail? What should I do if I pass the 7days? Should I use the single fare tickets?

    Anything else to add?

  2. vun yew says:
    April 5, 2015 at 8:02 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I stay E – hotel in higashi shinjuku.
    I plan to take toei line to shinokachimachi and transfer tsukuba line to asakusa.
    Is the tsukuba line cover by tokyo metro 1 day pass?

  3. Heri says:
    February 13, 2015 at 8:46 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    We plan to spend holiday in Japan from 18 to 24 March 2015. This is our first trip to Japan. I will bring my wife and two children (9 and 11 years old).
    Based on my research I have tried to develop an itinerary as follow:

    18 March 2015:

    Arrive in the morning (9.00 am) at Haneda international. go to Shinjuku/Shibuya area drop the luggage at the hotel and explore Shibuya and Shinjuku area (Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park, Tokyo camii Mosque, Shinjuku Gyoen, Harajuku, Takeshita Dori, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Government Building, (if time allow: Ikebukuro, Tokyo Tower)
    19 March 2015:
    Disneyland or Disneysea whole day

    20 March:
    Hake area whole day, go straight to Kyoto in the evening, check in the hotel in Kyoto

    21-March
    Explore Kyoto

    22 – March
    by shinkansen back to Tokyo (Asakussa area) Check in the hotel in Asakusa

    23 March
    Tsukiji, Ueno Park, Tokyo Sky Tree, Sensoji, Sumida river, imperial Palace East gate, Rainbow bridge

    24 March
    Check out and fly back home from Haneda airport

    Questions:

    1. Is it worth to buy JR Pass 7 days?
    2. Do I need to buy Hakone Pass for Hakone area one day?
    3. What is the shinkansen schedule from Odawara to Kyoto? and what time is the latest train ?
    4. Can JR Pass be used in Kyoto/Kansai area? How to reach point of interests in Kyoto and Osaka/Nara if possible?

    We really appreciate your kind response.

    Thanks a lot and hope to get in touch with you soon.

    Cheers,
    Heri

  4. Nina says:
    May 18, 2014 at 10:13 am

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    Your web site is really helpful for me but I really still need your advice. My first trip to Japan will be on 23rd june-2nd july 2014 and we are a family of 8 (3 adults & 5 kids). This is my brief itinerary:
    23/06 : arrive at Narita , 9.00 am and heading to Osaka directly (stay @ Keihan Tenmabashi, Question: must go to tokyo to take shinkansen, right?)
    24/06: USJ
    25/06: getting around osaka (Ramen museum, Dotonburi, etc)
    26/06 : Osaka – Tokyo (stay @ Richmond – Mejiro)
    27/06 : Mt Fuji ,Kawaguchiko & Gotemba Premium outlet (is it possible in 1-day trip?)
    28/06 : DisneyLand
    29/06 : Disney Sea
    30/06 : Asakusa , GIbli, others spot around Tokyo
    01/07 : Down town tokyo
    02/07 : depart narita @ 12 pm

    Considering to buy 7 days JR pass or JR Kanto Pass, which one is better? And what is the best starting date to use the pass?
    Considering my itinerary, what is the best pass to cover the rest of the trip if I use 7 days JR pass for the first 7 days?
    Since the pass can not cover both trip (on the arrival day and tokyo- narita, last day), one of them must use one way / single fare ticket , right?

    Your willingness to take time to read and give an advice to my questions is highly appreciated.
    Thanks in advance.

    regards,
    nina

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      May 19, 2014 at 1:07 am

      Hi Nina,

      First of all, JR Pass is your choice. Kanto Area Pass does not cover Osaka and it’s a wrong choice for your trip.
      You can start to use JR Pass 7 days right after you arrive in Narita. You have to take Narita Express to Shinagawa and transfer to Shinkansen there. You can transfer at Tokyo station too. But Shinagawa is much easier and closer to Shinkansen platform. You can book all trains that you will take in Japan. So complete to book at Narita. And also the staff in Narita station is more familiar to the tourist from overseas.

      You can use JR pass Disney land/sea and Ghibli museum.

      Next, Fuji and Gotemba is not impossible but it’s very tight. Because Lake Kawaguchi is north side and Gotemba is south side. Please see the model course at the link below:
      http://www.odakyu.jp/english/course/fujihakone/
      And also I put this area in the sample itinerary. Please see day 4 and 5 at the link below:
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-osaka-kyoto-hakone-fuji-and-tokyo-classic-route.html

      If you do this either one day or two days, Fuji Hakone pass is better choice. In this case, JR Pass is not a right choice for this trip. You may use JR Pass for Disney, Ghibli and other spots in Tokyo. Try to finish this by June 29. You can do Fuji on Jun 30 after JR pass expired.

      As you think, single ticket or limousine bus is your choice when you go back to Narita.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. ティナ says:
    October 15, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    This is a very useful Website. However I am having some issues in planning our transportation.
    I just want to know if it’s a must to have JR Pass. For your information, I will be travelling in Japan in 9 days from April. Here’s my itinerary.

    Day 1 – 8.45 am arrived in KIX. Hotel somewhere near to Minamikata station & ShinOsaka station. We plan to go Kaiyukan on our 1st day. Assuming that the one day Kaiyu pass is available in April. On this day, we are going to Umeda Sky Building as well.

    Day 2 – in the morning Visit Kobe Mosque before heading to Toyosato & Tokyo (via Shinkansen). At night want to go to Roppongi. FYI, our hotel will be in Shinjuku.

    Day 3 From Shinjuku, we plan to visit harajuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Asakusa, Skytree.

    Day 4 – In the morning go to Odaiba for taking picture before heading to Disney Sea resort. Maybe one whole day in Disney Sea to watch the parade at night.

    Day 5 – Visit Yokohama ramen museum before heading to Kyoto. (Don’t know if should take Highway bus or shinkansen to Kyoto.

    Day 6 – Go to Arashiyama Bamboo forest, Toei Studio park , Kinkaku-ji before heading to Gion.

    Day 7 – Visit Fushimi Inari Uji, & Nara Park.

    Day 8. Visit Kiyozumidera before going to Osaka. Go to USJ & at night to Namba.

    last day – Visit OsakaJo & brand Outlet before flying back from KIX at 11pm.

    If I buy JR Pass 7 days, I will not utilise it to the max since I am only focusing in Kyoto, Osaka & Tokyo.

    From my itinerary, what would you suggest? We hope not to spend more on public transportation.

    Appreciate your advice. Thank you Takeshi!

  6. Heng says:
    October 2, 2013 at 12:19 am

    Hi,

    We will be traveling to Japan this Nov. Two adults and two children. We plan to stay at Shinjuku area for the first three nights and move to Asakusa on the 4th day. We would like to know if it is advisable to go to Asakusa from Shinjuku station based on your recommendation route as we have big luggage to bring with us. Thanks.

    Regards
    Heng

    • JPRail says:
      October 2, 2013 at 12:40 am

      Hi Heng,

      There are so many routes. But all routes are commute lines. It’s not very comfortable to move anyway. The easiest route is JR train from Shinjuku to Asakusabashi. And then transfer to Toei subway line from Asakusabashi to Asakusa. Asakusabashi is different place from Asakusa. Unfortunately there is no direct way to get Asakusa from Shinjuku.

      I think you should make sure which station the nearest to your hotel is. In Shijuku, there are more than 5 stations, like JR Shinjuku, Shinjuku-sanchome, Shinjuku-nishiguti, Tochomae and Nishi-Shinjuku. If your hotel is not closed to JR Shijuku station, the above recommended route may not be suitable for your trip. If you are not sure, you may ask your hotel staff in Shihjuku. They know which station is the closest to your hotel. They can find it for you.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP rail

  7. pippy haus says:
    March 17, 2013 at 7:12 am

    Konnichiwa!
    We are two adults and two children (under the age of 11) travelling together in Japan for 12 days. Considering 7day JR pass only for section: Odawara to Tokyo, several days sightseeing in Tokyo, then back to KIX. Worth it? We don’t plan to take many buses as subway will be easier with our very limited Japanese language ability. Arigato for suggestions/advice!

    • JPRail says:
      March 17, 2013 at 4:48 pm

      Hi pippy haus,

      JR Pass is too much for your itinerary. Single ticket is much cheaper than 7 days pass price.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Lynn Teh says:
    October 30, 2012 at 2:37 am

    I like advise on what is the best Japan Rail pass to buy and how to get to the places listed
    Here is my itinerary:-

    1. Arrive Haneda 7 Dec @ 2300 hrs
    – Transfer Hotel Toyoko Inn Haneda (Do I have enough time to catch the shuttle bus?)
    2. Dec8 – Go back to Haneda airport to get JR Pass with voucher
    – Transfer to Shinagawa Prince Hotel ( What JR train to take?)
    Like to go Asakusa, Akihabara, Harajuku , Roppongi… pls suggest train to take
    3. Dec9 – Mt Fuji (Can use JR pass or buy JR Kanto pass or full trip Mt Fuji ticket)
    4. Dec10 – Nikko (Can use JR pass or buy JR Kanto pass)
    5. Dec 11 – Kamakura/Yokohama
    6. Dec12 – Check out to go to Osaka (What Shinkansen to take wtih JR pass?)
    7. Dec12 – Stay at Sheraton Miyako Osaka
    How to go Shinaibashi, Dontobori and Universal Studio??
    8 Dec13 – Check out hotel and go to Kinosaki and stay overnight (Can JR Pass go from Osaka to Kinosaki?)
    9. Dec14 – Check out Kinosaki hotel and go to back to Osaka, on the way, go to Hiroshima (morning) and Kyoto(evening) and any other suggestion??
    10. Dec 15 – Flight is at 1645 leaving Kansai airport , any suggestion to go in the morning?

    Appreciate if you can provide me the best train routes and maximize the JR pass 7 days ticket. (Start Dec8 , end Dec15)

  9. sw wong says:
    October 3, 2012 at 8:10 am

    Hi, My family and I will be arriving Haneda on 1 Dec and will be staying in Kamata area ie 5 min walk from Kamata Station for 4 days. Thereafter we will be going to Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka. I intend to buy JR pass (7 days) for travel between Mt Fuji, Kyoto & Osaka whereas subway pass for my stay in Tokyo. Tried many times to search for connecting station or nearest station between Kamata station and metro subway line but failed. Appreciate your guidance. Thank you.

  10. wong says:
    August 27, 2012 at 10:23 pm

    Hi. I will be arriving Haneda Airport on 19th Oct 2012, at 2300 hours. I am staying at BlueWave Inn hotel in Akasuka area. Do you think I can still take the Keikyu Railways to Akasuka area at that time?

    Secondly, is Keikyu line connected to Ginza suwbay? The nearest exit (as told by the hotel staff) is to take Ginza line at Exit 7. I am travelling with elderly people and try to avoid long walk during the night..

    Thanking you in advance!

    Regards,
    Wong

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