Senso-ji Temple & Kaminarimon Gate, Asakusa

Category: Historic Temple & Heritage | Location: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032 (Asakusa Station - Ginza/Asakusa Line)

Founded in 628 AD (with temple hall established in 645 AD during the Taika era) to enshrine the Bodhisattva Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), Senso-ji in historic Asakusa stands as Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Visitors enter through the iconic Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), famous for its monumental 3.9-meter-tall, 700-kilogram red paper chochin lantern flanked by statues of Fujin (Wind God) and Raijin (Thunder God). Beyond the gate stretches Nakamise-dori, a 250-meter flagstone shopping street dating back to the Edo period. Nearly 90 traditional stalls line the avenue, offering freshly baked Ningyo-yaki sponge cakes filled with sweet red bean paste, charcoal-grilled Senbei rice crackers, folding fans, and kimono accessories. The inner precinct features a majestic 53-meter Five-Story Pagoda and a large Jokoro incense burner where worshippers waft fragrant smoke over themselves for good health. Open 24 hours daily with free admission, Senso-ji is especially magical after dusk when illuminated against the backdrop of Tokyo Skytree.