2025/12/24

Walking Yanaka Ginza with Our Guest from Argentina | Sakura Hotel Nippori

Mario is a very friendly dad from Argentina. He chats with our staff every day.

When he told us he was going to explore Yanaka Ginza, we couldn’t help asking,
“Can we come with you?”
“Of course!” he said generously, without hesitation.

Yanaka Ginza is one of the most charming local shopping streets in Tokyo,
located within walking distance of Sakura Hotel Nippori.
In this blog, we share a real walking experience through Yanaka Ginza
with Mario, an Argentinian guest staying at our hotel.

Top Local Spots & Sightseeing page | Sakura Hotel Nippori

Discovering Traditional Tea at Kinkichi-en in Yanaka Ginza

Just a one-minute walk from Sakura Hotel Nippori—and entering Yanaka Ginza from the opposite side of Nippori Station—you’ll soon spot Kinkichi-en, a traditional Japanese tea shop with a charming storefront on the right-hand side.

Mario was drawn in immediately, almost as if pulled by an invisible force.

Inside, shelves were packed with all kinds of tea. Even just looking around was fascinating. But Mario moved confidently, like a regular customer, carefully examining the tea leaves.

“In Argentina, we have a strong mate tea culture,” he said.
“This roasted tea—hojicha—has a similar dark color to mate.”
That made sense. We often see guests from South America bringing their own mate tea with them.

“But what about this green one?” he wondered, pointing to sencha.
“I’m not sure if it’s for me…”

He leaned in to smell it—and suddenly his eyes lit up.

“Wow… this is amazing. What a beautiful aroma!”
“Sencha, you say? We don’t have anything like this in Argentina. I’ll remember this.”

An unexpected discovery, and a joyful one.

Kinkichi-en is filled with an impressive variety of teas, teaware, and tea-related goods. It’s a wonderful place to visit if you’re in Yanaka Ginza.
Open 10:00–18:00, closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Tasting Fresh Strawberries at a Local Greengrocer

Next, Mario stopped at Jinsei Shokuhin, a beloved local greengrocer famous for fresh produce at reasonable prices. We also buy vegetables from them for Sakura Hotel Nippori.

Without hesitation, Mario picked up a pack of perfectly ripe strawberries and decided instantly.
“I want to eat them now. Right now!”

After paying, he took a bite immediately.

“Oh no—I forgot to take a photo!”
“Can you take one for me?”

But it was already too late. He had finished them in seconds.

(Laughter.)

We briefly worried—“They’re not washed, is that okay?”—but Mario looked so happy that we didn’t want to interrupt the moment. The staff at Jinsei Shokuhin smiled warmly as well.

Despite rising food prices, Jinsei Shokuhin continues to offer fresh vegetables at very fair prices. It’s only a 2–3 minute walk from the hotel, so we visit often.
Open 11:00–19:00, closed on Sundays.

Completely satisfied with his strawberries, Mario set off again, humming cheerfully, searching for the next interesting discovery.

That’s when he suddenly stopped in front of Togijin Yanaka Ginza, a professional knife-sharpening shop.

He stood there, frozen.

Something was clearly wrong.

A Surprising Encounter with Japanese Knife Culture

“Mario… are you okay?”
“What’s wrong?”

“Is it really safe to have knives this close to people?”
“Is the glass bulletproof?”

…Don’t worry, Mario. It’s safe. Really.

“Oh, I see. That’s good,” he laughed.
“But you know, tourists really respect Japanese knives. Everyone says they’re incredibly sharp.”

Oh you were worrying about the safeness, I see.
It's normal for us to see knives within reach in the shop though, it can be anxious for you.

Where in Argentina Mario comes from, I wonder in my mind....

“This is fascinating,” he said.
“Japanese knives last so long because they’re sharpened and maintained, not just replaced.
I never imagined there would be shops dedicated entirely to sharpening.”

“Japanese people really value taking care of things. That’s wonderful.”

Mario left the shop with a huge smile on his face.
Honestly, by this point, I had become fans of Mario.

Why Yanaka Ginza Feels Truly Local, Not Touristy

“Well, we walked quite a bit,” Mario said.
“Shall we head back to the hotel and have some tea?”

“This shopping street is so rooted in the local community. It’s really interesting.
I like that it doesn’t feel too touristy. Thank you.”

On the way back, we stopped by Musashiya, a traditional Japanese sweets shop right in front of the hotel, picked up some mitarashi dango, and enjoyed them together with the Japanese tea he had just bought.

Look! How charming he is!!

While writing this blog, I keep thinking how much I’d love to go on another walk with Mario someday. A sequel might already be forming in my mind.

Why Staying at Sakura Hotel Nippori Makes Local Sightseeing Easy

Conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo, just five minutes from Nippori Station,
Yanaka Ginza retains a local, old-fashioned atmosphere and is just a one-minute walk from Sakura Hotel Nippori.
Always one of the first places we recommend to our guests.

Not only can you buy souvenirs,
but you can also experience the friendly, warm-hearted personalities of the people who work in the shopping district, a unique local charm that can only be experienced here.

We truly hope that many more guests will explore Yanaka Ginza, enjoy its unique atmosphere, and create unforgettable memories during their stay in Tokyo.

Thank you very much for reading until the end!

Daisuke
SAKURA HOTEL NIPPORI