ENGAWA ASAKUSA, a new hub connecting Japanese aesthetics and creativity to the world, has opened in Asakusa, Tokyo. It is operated by ENGAWA Co., Ltd., a company that provides communication support for foreign visitors to Japan.

Courtesy of ENGAWA
The store, which celebrated its grand opening on October 19, 2025, is based on the concept of "Connecting the World and the Future...— a hub for Japanese beauty and ideas." Conveniently located just a three-minute walk from Asakusa Station and a two-minute walk from Sensoji Temple, it serves as a "cultural veranda" welcoming travelers from around the world.


A veranda where "encounters" are created by windows and space
"ENGAWA ASAKUSA" collaborates with artisans and local brands from around the country to promote "Japanese culture as an experience" through product sales, food and drink, and cultural experience events. The store is equipped with a telepresence system called "Mado," which connects live with workshops across the country. Experience the craftsmanship of artisans in real time, even from faraway Asakusa, creating "encounters that transcend distance."

Courtesy of ENGAWA
The spatial design theme is "kamado" (stovetop). The open kitchen, symbolizing the gathering of people and flames, is centered around shelves and displays made from reclaimed wood from traditional Japanese homes. A step away from the hustle and bustle of tourist spots, visitors can relax and unwind in their own way, enjoying a "veranda"-like atmosphere that connects culture and people.


A new sensibility inspired by Japanese tea
The attached cafe and bar is overseen by Soejimaen, a tea farm in Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture. With over 100 years of tea production under its belt, the bar recreates the appeal of pesticide-free and reduced-pesticide cultivation with a modern sensibility. Drinks on offer include sencha and roasted green tea lattes, as well as sencha lime soda, tea beer, and roasted green tea highballs, allowing you to enjoy the perfect pairing of Japanese tea and alcohol.

Courtesy of ENGAWA
Also available is the "Gâteau Fromage (Green Tea/Hojicha)," a sweet created in collaboration with "pâtisserie maison Fujiya Hakodate" in Hakodate, Hokkaido. This gluten-free cheesecake infused with the aroma of tea elevates Japanese tea from a culture of "tasting" to "experiencing."


Connecting the nation's finest products to the future
The select shop will stock around 400 exquisite items from around the country, with a focus on "OMOTENASHI Selection" award-winning products. Japanese craftsmanship and design are on display, including Gunma's "Designer Daruma," Gifu's "Cooling Sakura Series," Osaka's "CHOPLATE," and Tokyo's "Kikkoman Honten Goyogura Series."

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Curated by a team of foreigners living in Japan who are editorial staff of the English-language media Tokyo Weekender. Re-edited through a global perspective, "Japanese beauty and ideas" come to life in the streets of Asakusa.

Courtesy of ENGAWA

"ENGAWA ASAKUSA" is a "modern-day veranda" where artisans, travelers, and local people come and go. It is from this place, which reinterprets Japan's climate and aesthetic sense and builds bridges to the world and the future, that new forms of Japanese culture will quietly spread.