Ameyoko market

📍 Ameyoko Market 上野アメ横商店街 @ Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵 Visited on 21 November 2025. We came to explore souvenirs, and the entire Ameyoko Market was lively, busy, and filled with the smell of street food. The crowded food street had endless stalls selling snacks, seafood, sweets, and bargain items, making it fun to walk and browse through the noise and energy. After shopping, we stopped by KFC nearby to try their Christmas meal, which was a nice break from the crowds. 🛍️ Souvenirs 🍢 Crowded food street 🎌 Lively, energetic atmosphere 🚶‍♂️ Easy to explore on foot 🍗 KFC Christmas meal after shopping A vibrant and bustling street — perfect for souvenirs, street food, and soaking in Tokyo’s market vibes. ✨🛍️🍢🍗

We began our day at Ueno Park (上野公園) a historic oasis in Tokyo. We spent about two hours admiring the treasures, history, art and culture at the Tokyo National Museum. We walked past some of the best ginkgo yellow and autumn foliage scenes at the Park. Afterwards, we wandered through Ameyoko Market (アメヤ横丁), a bustling street market famous for fresh seafood, snacks like takoyaki, spices, and goods, offering a tantalizing slice of local life. We had lunch at Mori no Chaya お食事処 森の茶屋. We had yummy fried pork cutlet, fried fish, rice and miso soup. Great value for money. Afterwards, we had anmitsu 白丸子，soft serve ice cream , matcha ice cream, jelly, jelly at Anmitsu, Ueno Station. Anmitsu is a wagashi that dates to the Meiji era. It is made of small cubes of agar jelly, a white translucent jelly made from red algae. The agar is dissolved with water to make the jelly.

Ameyoko Shopping Street Review Located in Ueno, Tokyo • Location: Ueno, Tokyo (Directly south of Ueno Station, stretching towards Okachimachi Station). • Vibe: Bustling, street-market atmosphere, popular with locals and tourists alike. • Shopping Experience: A mix of street food stalls, clothing, cosmetics, electronics, fresh produce, and even some bargain deals. • Accessibility: Easy to access from Ueno Station (a major transportation hub in Tokyo), walking distance to Ueno Park and the zoo. 1. Vibrant Atmosphere: Ameyoko is lively, vibrant, and energetic, with an almost chaotic charm. The street is packed with people, creating a very dynamic shopping experience. It’s perfect for those who enjoy immersing themselves in busy environments. 2. Variety of Products: From fresh fish, dried goods, spices, and produce to clothes, shoes, and cosmetics, there’s something for everyone. You can easily spend hours browsing through the stalls. 3. Great for Street Food: It’s a food lover’s paradise! You’ll find a wide range of street food, including takoyaki (octopus balls), taiyaki (fish-shaped cake filled with sweet red bean paste), okonomiyaki (savory pancake), and various skewers (yakitori). It’s also a great place to grab snacks and local delicacies at a reasonable price. 4. Affordable Prices: Compared to many other tourist areas in Tokyo, Ameyoko offers good deals and affordable prices on various items. For example, fresh seafood and snacks can be a lot cheaper here than in some of the upscale markets around the city. 5. Cultural Experience: It’s a great way to experience a more traditional, market-like setting in the middle of a huge metropolitan city. Ameyoko retains some nostalgic elements of Tokyo’s post-WWII era, which adds to its unique charm. 👎 1. Crowded and Noisy: One of the major downsides to Ameyoko is how crowded it gets, especially on weekends and holidays. If you’re someone who dislikes large crowds or prefer quieter spaces, it might be overwhelming. The noise from people and street vendors can be a bit much too. 2. Tourist Trap Vibes: While many products are genuine bargains, there are also a number of touristy items (souvenirs, trinkets, etc.) that might not be worth the price. Some might find it a bit commercialized, as it caters to tourists as well as locals. 3. Limited Seating and Comfort: It’s not the most comfortable place for leisurely shopping or dining. There aren’t many places to sit and relax, so if you’re hoping for a more laid-back experience, you might be disappointed. 4. Quality Control: While there are a lot of great deals, quality control can vary from stall to stall. Some products, particularly those in the clothing or electronics section, may not always be up to the highest standards.

Ameyoko is a must-visit in Tokyo! The energy here is incredible. We spent the day exploring and found so many gems. Niki no Kashi is amazing for buying souvenirs and snacks in bulk. We also visited Tokudaiji Temple, which is a hidden peaceful spot right above the busy market. There is so much great street food too, from fruit candy (Tanghulu) to lively Yakitori stalls. A perfect mix of shopping, eating, and sightseeing!

Ueno’s Ameyoko Shopping Street is one of those places where Tokyo’s vibrant energy truly comes alive. Stretching between Ueno and Okachimachi Stations, this lively market street is packed with everything — from fresh seafood and spices to street food, cosmetics, clothes, and souvenirs. The mix of shouting vendors, sizzling food stalls, and colorful signs creates an atmosphere that’s chaotic in the best possible way. Food lovers will especially enjoy wandering here. You can snack on takoyaki, grilled skewers, taiyaki, or fresh sashimi bowls, all at very reasonable prices. The aroma of grilled seafood and sweet treats fills the air, making it almost impossible to walk through without stopping for a bite.

The most wonderful chaotic shopping area with fresh produce-fruits, live and frozen seafood, fresh and dried vegetables including truffles!; clothes galore (branded and unbranded), souvenirs in great abundance, bags and suitcases of all kinds and prices, food glorious food - fresh, cooked, frozen and packed. Name it - it’s all here in a huge cacophony of joyous sound on technicolor. Seriously though, this is a bargain hunter’s paradise. There’s something for everyone, open air, indoor outdoor drinking eating, children’s games, cosmetics, jewelry.

There are many shops to choose from, offering fresh food, dried food, tea, coffee, snacks, and souvenirs from Japan. There are also grilled seafood restaurants here. You must only buy from Japanese people because some shops are Chinese. Drugstore and cosmetics. Come here and you will get everything you need in one place.

Really nice place to street shopping with many restaurants and things to buy. Very vibrant colorful neon light settings. Beautiful picture anyhow. Lots of people even on weekday.

Ameyayokocho is a popular shopping district in Tokyo. The area has so many food, apparel, special goods and other variety of stores. Plenty of food stalls, carts and restaurants as well. It's somewhat dirty and under maintained. The street was not so busy when we were there. There were more apparel and shoe stores here than any of the other street markets I had been to. But the quality of the shoes were concerning to me. Because it's I want to believe they were original, but the Nike, Adidas, Asics, NB, most of all those branded shoes felt like knock off to me. Prices were comparatively cheaper to US. I found a nice clothing store that had some really nice kimono, Japanese art jackets, t-shirts and gift items. We bought some fruit street vendor that wasn't really good. Overall it's a hit or miss here.

Ameya Yokocho / Ueno (Tokyo) -- Call it Ameyoko. That's what the locals call this kinda cramped and chaotic shopping street next to Ueno Station. It was probably a good thing that Jamie W and I had recently been to the even more hectic street markets in Taiwan and South Korea. It was good practice because there was a random mix of retail businesses here with a lot of hardcore bargaining since it was historically a black market area. There were also plenty of cafes, outdoor restaurants, and food vendors to inspect. We snacked on a local specialty, fruit on a stick, at BerryMoon. We had our own melon sticks (Photos 7, 23) but shared the stick of strawberries since they were lacquered in clear sugar (Photo 2). Tasty but way sweet. Even though we arrived mid-morning, the street was still too crowded to hang out for too long. Relief was just across the street at Ueno Park and just in the nick of time. RELATED - Exploring Tokyo? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/eGrhEFnRyV

Last April, we spent 3 days in Tōkyō, as an introduction to Japan before embarking on our cruise in Yokohama. Our first full day of sightseeing, cultural immersion, and retail therapy started with a visit to the Meiji Shrine and ended with a stop at Ameyoko. We also participated in a sushi-making session and a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony in Asakusa. We hopped back onto our tour bus and rode for about 15 minutes to Taitō City's famed Ameyoko Shopping Street near the Ueno Station. I'm not a window shopper or casual shopper, so before we arrived at Ameyoko, or the shortened name for "Ameya Yokocho," I looked up shops selling quality dried seafood, such as oysters, scallops, shrimp, clams, and abalone. I found several shops that were also recommended by our local guide and made a bee-line to them. Along the way, I passed a couple of shops serving snacks and Japanese whiskeys which my husband and I were drawn to even after having stuffed ourselves at lunch. However, we were limited to just an hour to browse or shop so I only came away with the dried seafood which I stuffed into my luggage throughout the cruise. As we left Ameyoko on our tour bus en route to our hotel, we passed a Starbucks Cafe on Okachimachi-Kasuga-dori Avenue where I happened to spot the backs of their Bearista Bear Collectibles dressed in kimonos in the window. Because I had casually collected the Bearista Bears since the late 90s up until their mid-to-late 2000s discontinuation in the USA, I was intrigued and wanted to get a pair of the bears. Unfortunately, since we disembarked in Singapore, I didn't get close to another Starbucks in Japan to look for the bears. By then, our luggage was packed with food products or souvenirs from the other East Asian countries we visited, so I made a note to myself to look for the Bearista Bears since we booked our 2025 return to Japan onboard our cruise ship. This year, we primarily toured Japan and Korea for three weeks and returned to shop at Ameyoko. This time, we made a beeline for this Starbucks Cafe. We ordered two iced coffee beverages from the friendly barista and inquired about the availability of the bears. Luckily, we got the second-to-last two 2024 Limited Editions Bearista Bears, still wrapped in plastic bags. He completed the transaction, packed our collectibles in a bag, and served us our beverages. I'm unsure if I imagined this, but the coffee beverages at this Starbucks Cafe tasted better than the same blend at home in Hawai'i. The cafe was small, cozy, clean, and had a younger generation vibe to it. There was more seating upstairs but we didn't wander upstairs since we wanted to stop and get some made-to-order sushi, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and yakitori to take with us to eat while waiting for our return flight.

Nice to experience as a first timer, but definitely know that this is more of a tourist trap with inflated prices.

***4.5 STARS*** During March last year, I went to Japan solo and spent the first leg in Tokyo. There are so many places I didn't get to visit in Tokyo when I lived in Japan back in the 90's and Ameyayoko, or Ameyoko Shopping District (ASD), was one of them. ASD became a black market after World War II where people could obtain things that came from soldiers. Ameya Yokocho literally means "sweets/candy alleyway" and you can find sweets in today's ASD, and lots of it. It was easy to get here via JR Yamanote Line (from Ikebukuro) by getting off in Ueno (Okachimachi Station). I'm an early bird so I arrived before 10am and most of the vendors were already up and running but witnessed a handful that were still setting up their shops/stalls. What are the activities for tourists when traveling? Shopping and eating. And that's what I exactly did here. But as a tip, don't buy things immediately on the impulse. Take your time and walk around the area to survey before purchasing. For lunch, I ended up getting a kaisen don from one of the vendors and I was just amazed at the prices. But keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Perhaps I'm a food snob and don't mind paying more for better quality. I even witnessed brand new suitcases, cosmetics and kitchen products while browsing. Prior to leaving the area I ended up picking up all sorts of snacks and candies to bring home as souvenirs to family, friends, and colleagues. I had such an enjoyable time at ASD where I highly recommended my family to come here when we traveled in December 2023. I took lead and pretty much did the same thing, but my family were not into shopping as they also had Seoul and Osaka on their itinerary, so they didn't buy anything. We walked around window shopping for about an hour before grabbing some Mediterranean food before parting ways as the kiddies had shopping to do in Ginza. Once again, I went back to the same shops I patronized previously by loading up on all sorts of snacks and candies to bring home. There were a handful of food vendors I wanted to try so I guess I'll have to come back to ASD to satisfy my curiosity. Overall, ASD is worthy of a visit. Most of the stores will offer plastic bags with handles to carry. I did prepare myself by carrying a backpack and 2 durable eco friendly shopping bags and they came in handy as I had to lug my haul back to my hotel. Many of the vendors accept plastic but you should bring some cash as some vendors are cash only. 2024 #15

This is a popular shopping district near Ueno Station for visitors. Lots of people come to buy fresh foods from both wet and dry markets, snacks, household items, beverages, liquor and clothing items either for yourself, others or for souvenirs. There are many hawkers trying to get you to eat at their open-air eateries, or you can also dine in other restaurants. I haven't seen any bakeries here. Easily accessible by train as Ueno Station is just nearby. There's Pachinko, Taito Gaming, Hotels drugstores, pharmacies and so many more here that I haven't had a chance to go check out yet.

I came here as part of a tour destination and I was not impressed at all. Yes, you will be able to find discounts on items in the stores here. Some may be authentic, some may not be authentic. Yes, it is crowded. The deep discounts brings amass of people from everywhere. Yes, be mindful of your personal belongings. The tour guide instructed us to hold our valuable closely as theft/pick pocketing has occurred. That's all.

Ameyoko Yokocho (Ameyoko Shopping Street in Ueno) was a fun experience for me. It honestly depends what you are looking for. Do you want a full heaping bowl of uni that looks amazing in pictures for Instagram? If so you should go to Tsukiji Fish Market instead. You will get more options as you walk through but the prices will be severely marked up. If you want a more casual lively atmosphere with a more rustic feeling with a reasonable price tag then go to Ameyoko Yokocho. Some stalls allow you to stand and eat and some places make you sit down. The experience is up to you and I would just go with the flow to see what you feel like. I've had chicken heart and gizzard yakitori, charcoal grilled oysters, raw oysters, raw monkfish and lots of cold beer. Each place left a positive impression with some decent. It depends on the people running the stall as well.

I would say the chaotic level might be same before the pandemic but I had noticed the variety of cuisin is more than before. In 2022, there are lots of quick bites shops of Chinese, Korean, Thai and Middle Eastern. And more Japanese pubs without chair. I mean you just lean on the counter without rooftop either. I don't khow how the business going in Winter time though.

I do have to admit this was probably my least favorite street market out of all the places we went in Tokyo. They did not have anything that was that interesting to me. Their clothes all were very touristy and looked like shops in downtown LA. We found everything to be pretty overpriced and not worth getting. None of the food looked good and everything looked pretty western. I guess if you are looking for consignment shops or nearby and just finding a place to go to then this might be for you. Even for it being clean, I just don't think this street market is worth checking out if you are on a time crunch. There are just better street markets in Tokyo to check out.

Ameya (candy store) Yokocho (alley) is a long street-full of vendors on both sides. If shopping is your thing, this is your place! You might try to bargain if you feel lucky! You'll find shoes, snacks, street food, jewelry, fresh produce, caps, bags, toys, sunglasses, fresh seafood, jackets, t-shirts, key chains, plushies, purses, dried scallops, and more! It's like a huge swap meet with a lot more shops on the side streets! I stayed along the train railway which was overhead because I didn't want to get lost. There seemed to be a couple of streets that ran parallel to the main street and many streets that ran perpendicular. Some people went to a certain confectionery and bought local candy. My friend bought me a souvenir t-shirt which was 1000 yen - about $10. It was the best price. I bought a Hello Kitty tote bag for 2800 yen - about $28. Later, we went to a licensed Sanrio store where I saw the same bag for a few yen more...yay! I was happy! Our tour took us here by bus which parked a few blocks away. It would be fun to return some day!

Rows and rows filled with vendors and eateries. You really have to look good when you're walking because there are side rows that also have vendors selling their wares. Ameya Yokocho on located in the Taito area and has quite a bit of restaurants and stores surrounding it. This is a good place if you're looking for deals or looking for Omiyage to take home. Just about everything can be found if you adventure throughout the aisles. Multiple Train station are near by four easy access.

Famous shopping street, with many vendors selling their products. There are also big name stores in the area, such as Don Quijote. Take a look around as you may find something you like. Be sure to carry cash as some vendors only accept cash.

The perfect place to explore and roam around if you have the time to take a leisurely stroll. It's got plenty of shops and small restaurants, but if you want to get away from the crowds, Shinobazuno Pond is just a short step away. Although we didn't intentionally visit this area for shopping, we found ourselves swept up in the crowd while searching for the train station. The stores are vibrant and the restaurant owners try to invite into their stalls for snacks and food. I actually found a really cheap discount store for food, snacks and candies, which were perfect for souvenirs! Everything is sold in bulk so prices were reasonable. Also, they have a tax-free line for foreigners who spend more than 5000 yen if you plan to stock up! Boyfriend stopped into a takoyaki shop while I was shopping and grabbed a plate of 4 for a good price. They were freshly made (piping hot) with a chunk of octopus inside each one. We eventually found our way to the train station, but definitely came back with a heavier pack. If you want to shop or find some neat novelty items to take home, I highly suggest stepping through.

Mayhem here absolutely overwhelms you so much that you wouldn't want to be here. But if you can come here under 500 yen for train fare, you might want to schedule your weekly grocery shopping. Because you can buy stuffs in bulk with super cheap. If you live in this country, you might have realized how expensive fruits are. Although it still won't be as cheap as in the states, you can save quite lot of yen here. Like, I bought 7 pairs for ¥1000 which would've cost close to ¥2000 at ordinary supermarket. They have good fishmarket(Yoshi-ike) that could be good alternative to Tsukiji. So, plan ahead, brace yourself for the mayhem. And make your weekly grocery shopping well worth of every yen.

Great if you like cute little shops and quick eats. However if your vegan like me, your food options are extremely limited. Like many others, I was looking for something sweet to eat, like wagashi. Unfortunately I was not able to locate any shops here. The shopping is not the best and there are better places to buy goods. I did notice there was an arcade here but I recommend you go to Akiba for games instead.

One of my favorite spots in Tokyo. You can definitely find some great spots here for some awesome, bargain street food. One of my go-to's is the famous, long line, super cheap Takoyaki. Just fifty cents per ball, these things are HUGE with a big chuck of octopus inside. Hands down, the best I've had in all of Japan. Even better than Osaka. Another is the kaisendon (sushi over rice bowl). Really great price and pretty good quality sashimi. Nice portions as well. You also need to try the fried meat pockets at this one popular beer stand, as well as some taiyaki. There are a couple of arcades around as well, and plenty of Pachinko Parlors. Bargain stores for clothing, shoes, accessories, bags, bags, and more bags,... Lots of fresh produce, seafood, meats, and grocery stores. And my main reason for going here is always the same thing. A HUGE grocery store with lots of souvenirs and candy for super cheap. Some of the cheapest in all of Tokyo. This is where I stock up on gifts and souvenirs. Absolutely AMAZING!

This is located across the street from the Shinobazu Gate of the JR Ueno Station. It's basically long strips of little shops/vendors of about 400 that sell anything from food, clothes, cosmetics, luggage, jewelry, souvenirs, etc. etc. You name it, most likely you'll find it. Have a headache? No worries, there are several drug stores too. I've been here a few times, and noticed that it has changed over the years. Although majority of shops are still Japanese owned, it has become more international and more shops seem to be catered towards tourists now. The last time I went back was in April of this year, and it was packed with tourists. Granted it was spring break, but everyone was moving down the street like a herd of cows. I do have a shop or two that I like, and would go to if I'm already in the area. One being a tea shop where my favorite brand of konbucha is really cheap. I think it's called Sankou-en? Another is the candy/snack shop called Niki-no-kashi. They've got a wide variety of sweets like no other, about 5,000 kinds according to their website, that range from old fashioned/retro snacks to popular current ones. I'm literally a kid in a candy store lol. Other than the few exceptions, there is really nothing else for me to see. I think it's an interesting place to bring first-timers so they can experience that showa era vibe.

Ameyayokocho is one of your local almost hidden market style shopping areas! It's not very big market area but good enough for me as I was excited about their prices. This is very close to the Ueno JR Station so its easy to get to. Sometimes, certain stores have the same stuff sold but others, you can find a better deal. I have not seen anyone bargain here but then I can't really understand them. I try to see the gestures of their conversations but I still don't think they bargain here. I was able to find many of the things I was looking for to bring home like my loose matcha tea. They gave samples you can try and showed displays of the loose tea they offered. Some offer tea pots that I am looking for and even Hello Kitty was sold here. They had Japan labeled shirts and bags for cheaper prices then the prime tourist spots. There are some food places within the market as well to eat. Make sure to ask for English menus. This is definitely a place to go for better prices when in this part of town.

Such a fun and bustling part of Tokyo. It's like a flea market but waaaaay cleaner. We stopped at several of the hand bag stores and which some of them actually carried second hand Louis Vuitton bags which the wifey has an affinity for. Prices though was a bit on the high side! Plus I'm afraid of getting a fake. However the purses they had here was in top notch condition. Folks around here take care of there stuff. Next we stopped at farmers stand selling produce and we spotted some white strawberries! I thought these were super rare and in fact they are. I shelled out 30k yen for a small box of them. The taste was not very sweet but the texture and flavor was quite strong. Save your money and just get the regular red strawberries! Along the way there was scattered food vendors. I opted for a dosa filled with chicken and beef. Opted for the super hot and I barely registered the heat. I guess they tone down the spice here for the Japanese palette. A great spot to come pick up some gifts and nobody accepted anything other then the price stated so dont bother haggling.

Every district in Tokyo has that shoppers lane and this is the one for Ueno that is tucked behind the department store. It is the place of cheap baubles, street food, crowds, etc. Again, I give a 4 b/c I hate rating touristy places b/c everyone has different opinions, but if you came prepared from descriptions, then you won't be disappointed with your expectations. For example, if you are someone who loves good bargains, colors, food, loud, and excitement, then you want to walk down this lane. If you're someone who likes quiet places to eat and something more relaxed, then you're going to hate this lane. Whatever it is, any tourist should definitely walk down this lane to see what part of a lot of Tokyo will be like- crowded popping lanes like this. I wouldn't hang out here often b/c it's packed but if you're someone who wants a good shopping experience with cheap goods, then you're going to like this place. This place is full of tourists- I would be surprised if more than 30% are locals. Many are Chinese tourists. The shopping is cheap and you have people hollering their discounts. If you are looking for shoes, purses, clothes, luggage bags, etc you'll find it here. You'll even have a whole section selling fish (large octopus legs, dried fish, etc). You'll find lots of small ramen, sushi, sashimi, rice bowls etc tucked away in this alley- expect to wait long lines if you don't start early. Much of this is cash only so make sure you have cash if you're fixing to get yourself some goods. There are cheap baubles, touristy shirts, etc if you're down for that. I find this alley more approachable than the lanes in Shibuya and Shinjuku but found more variety in Asukasa.

Ameyayokocho is a nice market that is close by the station so it was easy to get to and only a short walk away. There are a bunch of small shops that sell items ranging from belts to souvenirs to sweets to everyday home products. They also have a lot of food options ranging from sushi to ramen to curry (your typical Japanese cuisine). They are everywhere! There are rows and rows of restaurants in a line that have signs telling you all the good deals they have and they usually have beer as well. When I went, I was hoping there was going to be more people like in some of the pictures that I saw on here. It was a Thursday night so maybe that's why there were fewer people but it was nice that there was space to walk and I didn't need to push anyone or squeeze through tight places. This is just a nice place to walk around and see some of the local markets.

Put on some good walking shoes and head to Ameya Yokocho for a fun shopping experience. Streets are crowded with people who want to get their hands on some great street grinds. You can get anything from grilled oysters to assorted seafood on a stick, sushi, ice cream, fresh fruits, desserts, etc. It's a huge open market filled with vendors. You can easily spend all day here eating your way through the streets. I bought some cute Hello Kitty sneakers for 2500 yen for my Princess and found a nice vendor selling a ton of assorted packaged furikake. I ended up buying about 10 bags of furikake from him and wished I bought more. Flavors like Thai Curry, Charsiu, Fried Chicken, Butter Shoyu, Unagi Kabayakiwere just a few of the flavors he was selling. The butter shoyu furikake was so good and was about 150 yen per package. So cheap and good!! I highly recommend visiting Ameya Yokocho while visiting Japan. Definitely a fun experience!

Another place to walk around and maybe buy stuff or eat some place. Always nice to see popular places.

Is it crazy that I didn't find not one Candy Store? This place was INSANELY crowded on the day we went (a Sunday) and after walking most of the street - we ducked into one of the side alleys to the main street. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people crammed into that small space. Now, while I didn't see any candy (the reason we actually came here) I did see fruits, kabobs, t shirts, bags, shoes and various other quick bites to pick up. We did end up eating at a fantastic Chinese restaurant not too far from here, so the cross city trip wasn't all lost. Wouldn't recommend any out of towners come here - at least not on the weekend.

With over 10 million visitors, Ueno Park is arguably the most visited park in Tokyo. And Ameyayokocho is a busy market street closeby. The name translates roughly to "candy store alley" because candy was traditionally sold here. (Stephanie S. and I didn't see any though!?) There are tons of food stalls, restaurants, and stores here for you to browse through. Although a lot of the restaurants were packed with people, none of them really stood out to us. After checking out a lot of the cute stores, where we didn't buy anything either, we left.

Ameya-Yokocho is a famous shopping "street" in the Ueno area - just a few short blocks from the park and the train station. There are a lot of shops selling souvenirs or just regular Japanese products. There are a lot of drug stores so it's a great place to stock up on your Japanese products - face masks, foot masks, everything masks! There are also a lot of food options ranging from taiyaki to sushi conveyor belts to yakitori spots. It does get pretty crowded midday since it's a popular place to buy fresh food products as well so all the residents will go to do some shopping as well.

Ameyoko or "Ameya Yokocho" (candy store alley) This area is very busy with both tourists and locals it runs along the Train tracks which is elevated, lots of shops selling various items like Nori (Seaweed), fresh vegetables, seafood both dry and fresh, fruits, several drug stores with many toiletry items, bags, Tshirts, & some touristy items. There are still a few places that sell candy but not very much anymore. There are also many food vendors with many different snacks and quick meals. It's a great place to browse around since there is quite a bit to see.

Ameyayokocho in Ueno. Conveniently located near the train station, I come here every single time I've been to Japan. Why? Cheap stuff with pretty darn good quality. If you need dry goods like preserved scallops, genmai cha, cuttlefish, etc. They have it. If you want kitchen appliances or home goods, look no further. Heck if you want clothes and shoes this place has got it. It's hard to compare it to anything in the US but I'd say it's a larger street fair with the occasional higher end retailing interwoven within the market. You can also find electronics, pharmacy's....like said everything short of buying a car. Granted it does get crowded here but that's the fun of people watching as well as eating some pretty darn good food. I'd recommend to anyone looking to buy "omiyage" to take home or to buy something for yourself, to come to Ameyayokocho. Make sure you hit the Mr. Donuts for treats that kick you in the ass. Actually just make it bigger....because I'm not a sweets guy but damn their treats are good.

This Place is complete insanity. Its like a Japanese version of Chinatown, except Japanese. And instead of bargaining "that's a no-no in Japan" everyone tells you how much everything costs and expects that if you want it that you will pay that price... like a dope. This is a good area to pick up some gifts and junk to bring home as there is a wide variety of crap in a small area, so you can get that out of the way and eat more sushi and really good steak.. and octopus balls! definitely eat the octopus balls every chance you get... they are like molten magma so don't put the whole thing in your mouth or you will HAVE TO spit it out, like that hot!! and anything ending in "YAKI" eat that too.. there are like a million types of yakis.... and sake.. maybe you should eat first, then go with the sake, get nigori "unfiltered" Sake, its cloudy and creamy tasting and gives you a glow! come to think of it.. forget about this market altogether and spend your money on food.... so much good food in japan.. lets talk RAMEN!

A crazy crowded place but fun. There are other places under the nearby buildings where you can find some exotic herbs and spices and some other exotic ingredients. Restaurants and different stores selling all kinds of trinkets, chocolate and what nots. A great place to shop for those needed omiyage.

Large variety of shops down this busy Y shaped alley near Ueno station and Ueno Park, including supermarkets and arcades. We had the most fun at the claw machines. Sadly, we didn't win anything as they have a weak grip. I found the souvenir shops near Sensoji Temple to have better looking merchandise (not sure about the prices).

I didn't find this place too exciting especially compared to other shopping places but it's def a place to check out and visit. I wish I went to the Ueno Park but didn't get a chance to.

Ameyoko is located between Ueno and Okachimachi station and along to JR line. There are about 400 shops on this street. Ameyoko had started black market after world war 2, and changed clean market in 50's - 70's. Now Ameyoko has various type of store, such as, seafood, sports goods, clothes, restaurants and etc. This is good attraction to touch old shopping shops in Tokyo. https://youtu.be/kNQJ8rxVt2U

I love places like this - chaotic, crowded, and random. What's that? A store selling The Simpsons cookies with packaging that doesn't seem to reference any legit Simpsons licensing? A booth selling German sneakers that a native German has never heard of? Yes please! That being said, it's not for everyone. I'm not sure if you really get the best deals, but it's fantastic people watching and I enjoyed the best takoyaki I've had to- date. Its easy to wander for hours enjoying the sites and scenery. If that's your bag, this place is for you!

When it comes to urban life in any cities around the world, there is a theory that I believe is true. It clearly explains relationship between the depth (and width, of course) of culture and the quality of experience: the harder you get in, the better outcome you can get afterward. To this extent, "Ameyoko" is the place to be if you would like to enjoy deep local experience quite casually. You can enjoy not only shopping but also dining out. Some places have English (or Chinese) menu and staffs who are fluent with those languages.

This is near Ueno Station, which is very convenient for trains, though it is far from Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro. This sells a lot of things ,and there are too many people. Too many people, too many shops, too many items! So this is not a Japan-like place. This is described East-Asia-like rather than that. This place is the reminder of the time short after the war. So though you don't feel this, it is American-like originally. To sum up, this is very funny and interesting place!

The Ameyoko Shopping Street is directly to the west of Ueno station and runs south all the way to Okachimachi station. It's not a long street per say, but it's fun and has shops that offer small interesting eats.

I love the hustle and bustle of Ameyoko. This marketplace is lined up of several streets full of people shopping around. You can find anything from sneakers to toys to seafood to takoyaki here. They have American goods as well and some pretty dank Japanese street food. Some good restaurant shops are here and you can tell they're good from the long lines that exist at night even during the cold weather (bring cash, card not often accepted!). There's also some cafes and clubs nearby though I haven't ventured that far into them yet. A great tip I'd say is to take the detour through Ameyoko on the way to Akihabara if you're coming from Ueno station or hotel.

If you're in the area take a stroll down this street. There are a ton of sellers selling various things. There are high end stores, discount stores, food stores, and everything in between. I saw great deals on sneakers and picked up some discount candy from a huge candy store. I grabbed some takoyaki from a small stall and it was pretty decent and very inexpensive, it was mesmerizing to watch the girl make them. It's located between 2 train stops so it's easy to get to.