Temples in Tokio

Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon, is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Tokyo. Its foundation in 628 is based on the legend that fishermen fished a golden Bodhisattva Kannon (goddess of mercy) out of the nearby Sumida River. The image is kept in a gold plated shrine but is never shown to the public.

Approaching the shrine, the first gate is Kaminari-mon - the gate of thunder; the god of thunder is on the right and the god of wind on the left. However, more picturesque to most tourist will be the huge red paper lantern hanging in the middle of the gate. It is one of the most famous sights in Tokyo and makes for great photos in almost any weather. Rickshaws usually offer services from the gate - many speak English.

After the gate you enter Nakamise Dori - a famous shopping street leading to the temple. (See Asakusa area entry). Before reaching the temple you cross another huge gate with more big red lanterns - the Hozomon Gate. The lanterns here are donated by tradesmen, including the traders from Tsukiji Fish Market. The huge, several meters long straw sandals are from rural Yamagata - the idea is that if the guard of the temple has such enormous feet it is better to pass than to contemplate evil deeds!

You reach the main hall after passing a huge cauldron of smoking incense. For a cure, wave the smoke towards areas of your body that ache. The main hall has been rebuilt at least four times. The current temple structure dates from the 1950s and is mainly reinforced concrete. It replaced the 1651 temple, which was destroyed by air raids during the Second World War. During the war the image of Kannon and several other artworks were buried and spared from destruction. The three huge lanterns hanging from the main hall are donated by geishas from various areas in Tokyo alluding to the important role Asakusa played in Edo times as an entertainment area. (This role has long since moved elsewhere, especially to Shinjuku and Ikebukero.)

After donating some coins you can pull your fortune out of cylinder with sticks - just follow the lead of other people there. You’ll get a stick with a letter and then take the fortune out of a drawer with the same number. There are sometimes English instructions available or just ask - many visitors are keen to help foreigners to find the right slip of paper. If you don’t like your fortune you can simply nix it by tying it to a nearby tree!