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Vibrant, Street Market with Ties to the Past
Ameyoko is a shopping area quite unlike any other in Tokyo. The name refers to a district in Ueno between Ueno station and Okachimachi station that was the site of a farmers market prior to the war and afterwards the site of a large black market in American and European goods. There are hundreds of small shops and market stalls selling everything from seafood, fresh, home-made tofu, and Korean kimchi to jeans, electronics, camping gear and fake brand name goods. The market is actually quite similar to Asian markets in places like Seoul and Taipei with the variety of products and the vibrant atmosphere. It has a gritty feel and is loud with hawkers shouting prices or offering special discounts. There is a refreshing amount of openness that does not normally manifest itself in the overly polite formalities that you see in many of the upscale department stores or other shopping districts in the city. Jostling for space or that great deal is common along with raised voices and exaggerated facial expressions. Unlike many stores in Tokyo, haggling and bargaining are par for the course here, and if you look around you’ll see many customers, especially Japanese housewives doing just that. A lot of the stalls have more traditional Japanese foods, candy and toys, which, if purchased in souvenir shops in other parts of the city, are a bit more expensive.
The market also has a variety of food stalls selling cheap meals and snacks, like Takoyaki, battered bite-sized pieces of fried octopus, as well as ramen and soba.
Ameyoko is close to Ueno park and a number of museums such as Tokyo National Museum and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, so it makes sense to include a trip to Ameyoko if your itinerary includes any of the popular tourist spots in Ueno.
The best way to access Ameyoko is from Ueno or Okachimachi stations on the Yamanote line.