This is the lead-up to Sensō-ji and one of the BEST low-stakes "first taste of Japan" experiences for kids. A 250-meter pedestrian street packed with stalls selling fresh-from-the-griddle snacks, character toys, paper fans, and weird-cool souvenirs your littles will obsess over.

What makes it special: this is the food street. Forget sit-down restaurants — let the kids point and pick. Must-try snacks: ningyo-yaki (little cakes shaped like Sensō-ji symbols, filled with red bean — get them HOT), age-manju (deep-fried sweet bean buns), melon-pan, and freshly grilled senbei rice crackers the size of your head. Most stalls hand you the snack on a stick or in a paper sleeve = stroller-friendly eating.

Kid tips:

• Best for ALL ages. Toddlers plus little kids love the bright colors; older kids love the food and the cheap toys.

• Go in the morning (before 11am) or after 4pm when the day-tripper crowds thin out. Midday is shoulder-to-shoulder.

• Cash is your friend here — many small stalls don't take cards.

• Don't eat-and-walk. It's considered rude in Japan. Step to the side or eat near the stall.

• Stroller works but you'll be slow. Carrier is faster for crowded times.

• Public bathrooms are at the Sensō-ji end (free, clean, with a kids' size toilet).

We pair this with Sensō-ji temple and a kimono rental from KIMONO U Asakusa for a magical Old Tokyo morning with kids.