A Tale of Two Tokyos: From Historic Asakusa to Quirky Akihabara 

One thing I love about Tokyo is how the traditional and the contemporary exist side by side. In Asakusa, for example, you can visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, with its massive Kaminarimon Gate and shop-filled Nakamise-Dōri Street that draws thousands of tourists daily. Then, in just five minutes, you can visit the quirky neighborhood of Akihabara, another popular tourist destination known for its anime and manga culture, using the Tsukuba Express! In this article, I’ll take you through how to use the Tsukuba Express for quick, stress-free travel between these two can’t-miss spots. 

How to Travel from Senso-ji Temple to Akihabara

Only a ten-minute walk from Senso-ji Temple, using the Tsukuba Express to get to Akihabara is very straightforward. Just be careful that you’re at the right station; the Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station is different from the Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station.

Purchase a ticket to Akihabara using one of their ticket machines or tap your IC card to enter the turnstile. At the time of writing, the price of traveling from Asakusa to Akihabara is 210 yen when you pay with your IC card.  Then, just board the Tsukuba Express bound for Akihabara from Platform 2. Local, semi-express, commuter express, and express trains stop at Akihabara, so you can take whichever train comes first—no transfers needed! The train will arrive at Akihabara Station at an underground platform, so if you’re traveling with luggage, I recommend getting on at Car 6, which stops close to the elevator that leads to the ticket gate at Akihabara Station. Or, you can get on at Car 4, which will stop close to the escalator and stairs that lead to the gate. 

To get out of the station, exit the ticket gate and proceed straight ahead to get out of the station. Next, turn left and go up the stairs or escalator. Turn right at the top and go up a second escalator or stairs. Follow the path to a third escalator or stairs to reach the surface level. The ride will take only five minutes, but you’ll feel like you’re worlds away from Asakusa when you step out of the station into Akihabara’s vibrant atmosphere filled with electronic shops, anime stores, and themed cafes.

Exploring Beyond Akihabara with the Tsukuba Express

Besides Asakusa and Akihabara, the Tsukuba Express line opens opportunities to explore other exciting destinations. If you want to venture outside of Tokyo, you can take the Tsukuba Express line to Tsukuba Sation in Ibaraki Prefecture and visit the scenic Mount Tsukuba, a popular destination for hiking and enjoying nature. Or, get off at Nagareyama-ōtakanomori Station and visit the nearby Suwa Jinja Shrine. 

Moreover, staying at Tavinos Hotel gives you excellent access to the Tsukuba Express Line. So whether you're diving into the historical depths of Asakusa, immersing yourself in the otaku culture of Akihabara, or enjoying nature in the northern Kanto area, the Tsukuba Express is definitely a line you’ll want to make use of during your trip to Tokyo. 

writer

Rachael Aoki
Originally from the East Coast of the United States, Rachael has called Japan home for over a decade. She enjoys discovering destinations that are popular with locals from quaint cafes to hole-in-the-wall eateries and sharing that information with visitors from overseas. She also loves taking trips to onsen and is always up for a trip to Hakone, Kanagawa.