The line is named after the Asakusa district, a cultural center of Tokyo, under which it passes.

Stations carry the letter "A" followed by a two-digit number inside a more reddish vermilion circle.

Construction of this line began on 27 August 1956 after years of delays, and the initial 3.2 km (2.0 mi) segment between Oshiage and Asakusabashi opened on 4 December 1960.

[3] From 1998 to 2002, the Asakusa Line was used as part of a rail connection between Tokyo's two major airports, Haneda and Narita.

This would provide Tokyo Station's first direct connection to the Toei subway network.