Senso-ji Temple

Senso-ji Temple, located by Sumida River in Taitō district of Tokyo, is a large-scaled remaining site in Edo style. It is the oldest temple in Tokyo, since it was first constructed about 1,400 years ago. The gate to Senso-ji Temple, Kaminarimon, is a symbol of Asakusa area and even Japan.

History Rooted in a Legend

As the story goes, two brothers went for fishing on the Sumida River in 628 AD. They get a small statue of Kannon, the Japanese name of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva – a Buddhist divine being, from the river. They thought the statue was useless for them, so they threw it into the flowing water. However, the statue drifted back to them. They threw it dozens of times, but the statue came back to them every time. Thus, they felt so magical that built a temple on the riverbank to worship Kannon. That was just Senso-ji Temple.

Senso-ji Temple Photos ( 39 )

After multiple damages and repairs, Senso-ji Temple ushered in a massive reconstruction in early Edo era (1603-1868 AD). Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun at that time, designated the temple as the prayer house of his shogunate. Thence, it became a large temple and has attracted numerous pilgrims and visitors.

Major Attractions/Things to Do in Senso-ji Temple

Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)

When you comes to Asakusa, Kaminarimon, the thunder gate in Japanese, is a must-see landmark. It’s the outside entrance to Senso-ji Temple, a typical old gate built to pray for peace and good harvests in the 10th century. The giant red lantern hanged in the center is very eye-catching, with Japanese word “Thunder Gate” written on. On the left is the statue of the god of wind, while on the right is the statue of the god of thunder.

Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)

Nakamise Shopping Street

Nakamise-dori Street

Walking through the Kaminarimon, you will reach Nakamise-dōri, or called Nakamise Shopping Street, in the old style on the whole. The street was a cause way for pilgrims initially, to the modern time, many shops stand at the roadsides. You could see traditional small items and fine souvenirs there, and more alluringly, you can try the local snacks to your heart's content.

  Nakamise Shopping Street Photos

Hozomon Gate

At the other end of Nakamise Shopping Street, that is the Hozomon Gate, which means the gate of treasures. It is the true gate of Senso-ji Temple. What’s interesting is that, there are two enormous straw sandals hanging on the back of Hozomon Gate, one on each side. These are really large, 3 meters (9.8 feet) long and 1 meter (3.3 feet) wide. The big straw sandals symbolize farming, which is a wish for a harvest of ancient Japanese.

Five-Storied Pagoda

Five-Storied Pagoda, Goju-no-To in Japanese, is in the southwest corner of Senso-ji Temple. You can witness what a typical Japanese pagoda is like on the spot. About 48 meters (157 feet) high, it is the second highest pagoda in Japan. There is a Sarira, Buddha’s relic, from Sri Lanka has been preserved on the top.

Main Hall of Senso-ji Temple

Main Hall of Senso-ji Temple – Hondo

The main hall is the site where Kannon – Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has been worshipped, also called Hondo or Kannondo Hall. The outer hall has a concrete floor, while the inner hall is covered with tatami and a niche of Kannon is placed. However, the statue of Kannon is on to public on some special days only. In addition to Buddhist statues, the mini Kannon statues that Edo shoguns and monastics as well as high-ranking imperial family members wore as protective talismans are also displayed.

Asakusa Shrine

On the east side of the main hall, Asakusa Shrine is also a crucial site inside Senso-ji Temple. It is one of the influential shrines, dedicated to three persons who were closely related to the founding of Senso-ji Temple: the brothers who salvaged the statue on Sumida River and the scholar (might be a monk) who recognized the sculpture as a Bodhisattva statue. In May every year, bustling Sanja Matsuri is held here, attracting countless visitors for the festival.

Fortune-Telling Paper Slips

Senso-ji Temple is hot for the fortune-telling as well. After dropping JPY 100, you can draw a fortune-telling stick by shaking the lot pot with a small hole on an end, and match the number on the stick and that on the drawers. In the corresponding drawer, you can find the Omikuji, fortune-telling paper slip. A propitious explanation is of course good, but the unsatisfactory paper slip can be tied to the special site in the temple, to avoid bringing bad luck home and pray for blessings.

Drawers Corresponding to Fortune-Telling Sticks

Paper Slips in Senso-ji Temple

Etiquette & Tips

  Before the worship at Senso-ji Temple, you should cleanse your hands at the hand washing pool. With the ladle provided, there are the steps to follow.
1. Scoop the water with right hand and rinse your left hand;
2. Scoop the water with the left hand and rinse the right hand;
3. Scoop some water with the right hand, pour the water into your left palm to gargle
4. Clean the handle of ladle with the remaining water on your palm;
5. Put the ladle back in place.
Never send the water in the ladle directly to the mouth to gargle.

  Please line up to worship in turn. You can put coins before worshipping, meaning to wake up the Bodhisattva. As the number 5 has a good meaning in Japanese custom, so you could prepare some coins in 5, 50, or 500 yen beforehand.

  Keep your eyes out for the notice whether taking photos is allowed inside the hall. Never take a picture in the main hall.

  Don’t make noise in Senso-ji Temple as it is sacred.

Temple Festivals/Events Can be Expected

  Sanja Matsuri is the grandest festival in Asakusa area and Tokyo in the third weekend in May. Asakusa Shrine in Senso-ji Temple is the major venue to hold the festival. People would have a parade through streets in clothes of Edo era, while lifting mikoshi, the holy sedan chairs for gods. You could also watch the Shinto ceremony and traditional dance performance to pray for blessings. Watch the official notice of celebration schedule, you may discover more interesting activities during Sanja Matsuri.

Hozomon Gate

  Kinryu no Mai, golden dragon dance, is a representative event in Senso-ji Temple, performed twice a year, on March 18th (the day that Kannon statue appeared) and October 18th (chrysanthemum fete). Legend has it that at the moment when the statue was found, a golden dragon danced in the sky where Senso-ji Temple is located, and a forest of thousands of pine trees sprouted up overnight. On the open spare in front of the main hall of Senso-ji Temple, the golden dragon would go after a ball all the way to the hall, just like the legendary golden dragon's appearance.

  Samba Carnival, sounds not right in this historical site, is an exultant event indeed in Asakusa, near Senso-ji Temple. In late August each year, the carnival parade is highly likely to pass in front of Kaminarimon. What a surprise!

Opening Hours & Admission

Free entry to Senso-ji Temple

Area	Opening Hours
Kaminarimon	24 hours
Nakamise Shopping Street	Generally 09:00-19:00 Depending on the shopkeepers
Senso-ji Temple area	06:00-17:00 April to September 06:30-17:00 October to March
Asakusa Shrine	24 hours

How to Get to Senso-ji Temple

The metro station of Asakusa can be reached by the Ginza Line of Tokyo Metro, Toei Asakusa Line, and Tobu Skytree Line. Senso-ji Temple is very close to Asakusa Station within a few minutes’ walk.

The sightseeing ferry Tokyo Cruise is also available to Senso-ji Temple, as the pier is next to Asakusa station by Sumida River.

  From Tokyo Station: about 20 minutes
Take JR Chuo Line or Yamanote Line at Tokyo Station to Kanda, and transfer to Ginza Line of Tokyo Metro to Asakusa Station.

  From Shinjuku Station: about 30 minutes
Take JR Chuo Line to Kanda, and transfer to Ginza Line to Asakusa station.

Take Toei Shinjuku Line to Higashi-nihombashi, and transfer to Asakusa Line to Asakusa station.

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