Ippachi

In his autobiographical novel Asakusa Kid, Beat Takeshi—one of Japan’s most famous comedians and a world-renowned film director also known internationally as Takeshi Kitano—depicts a vivid scene that captures his struggling early days in Asakusa: “At lunchtime, I got by on a 100-yen bowl of tempura soba at a standing noodle shop called Ippachi, tucked away behind an opera shoe store. After buying cigarettes, I’d drink a few glasses of chu-hai at night, and that was the end of the day. Not a single yen was left.”

The shop mentioned in this passage, Ippachi, still quietly stands in a narrow back alley of Asakusa’s Rokku district. This traditional standing soba shop preserves the atmosphere of old downtown Tokyo. With only a simple counter inside, customers eat quickly and move on—an everyday scene that has changed little over the decades. The soba noodles are thin and easy to eat, while the slightly strong, Kanto-style broth is well balanced with dashi. The signature tempura soba is topped with a light kakiage fritter made from onions and carrots, offering a crisp texture and a straightforward, comforting flavor. Other classics such as moon-viewing soba with egg, tororo kelp soba, and jaco fish tempura soba are also available. Away from the bustle of tourist spots, Ippachi remains a place where visitors can experience the true, unadorned daily life of Asakusa.