Admiring Asakusa in Tokyo, Japan

When we were planning our trip to Tokyo, a friend of mine sent me a list of must-see places to visit in our limited time in the city. She lived there for a long time, having grown up in Japan, before eventually moving to NYC, where the two of us met in grad school.

One item on her list was to visit the Sensoji Temple located in the neighborhood of Asakusa, the oldest temple in all of Tokyo. This beautiful and dramatic Buddhist temple, originally built in the 7th century though consisting of more modern reconstructions, is quite awe-inspiring, and a total must-see on your next trip to Tokyo.

To get to the temple, we took the subway from the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market area where we had just completed a food tour of the area. We walked down Kaminarimonichinomiya Street and admired one of the many kimono rental shops you can find around Tokyo, as well as other typical Tokyo small side street scenes.

Eventually reaching Kaminarimon-dori Street, we turned left to head towards the temple.

Just a few steps away is the entrance to the temple, the Kaminarimon Gate. This gate in particular below dates from the 1960s, though the original was completed in the 900s. Having been destroyed by fire, war, and other natural disasters over the many centuries, the current gate is an obvious landmark for those looking to visit the temple, but also to get a selfie.

The lantern at the gate is quite massive, and I couldn't helped but be impressed by its scale.

Below is one example of how the ancient and modern aspects of Tokyo merge together to make for an interesting and dynamic city.

Once inside the gate, you are next greeted by the Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street, filled with vendors selling all sorts of wares, from ice creams to souvenirs like clothing, stationary, and fans. The street was started around the 17th-18th centuries, and, because it is built on temple grounds, vendors were allowed to sell things if they kept the area clean. These types of temples were huge draws for pilgrims coming from far distances, and the vendors were primed to provide food and drinks for those just arriving after long journeys. Pilgrims would also pick up trinkets and other souvenirs to bring back to their friends and family who were unable to make the often long and challenging journeys, and it is a tradition that still continues to this day, called omiyage. An earthquake destroyed the original buildings, and the more modern constructions were completed after World War II.

It's a pretty cool place that we were somewhat overwhelmed by having just come from Tsukiji, and we were not in any particular mood to shop or eat. However, if I could revisit this area, I would do it as a stand alone activity and check out the stalls more closely.

Signs like the one below remind me of how in 2001 I would have been able to read it, having learned this particular Japanese alphabet. One day I hope to be able to master the alphabet again.

Again, combining the modern with the traditional, we see a view of the Tokyo Sky Tree in the distance, along with a statue of a person in traditional dress.

People dressed in kimonos mingle with more modernly attired visitors.

The shopping street continues on for quite a little while, with 89 shops between the Kaminarimon Gate and Sensoji temple.

Finally, though, you arrive in front of the temple, passing through one more gate, the Hozoman Gate.

Once inside the gate, you are greeted by the actual Sensoji Temple, which was originally built 645 CE. According to this website:

The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.

The five story pagoda on the left (seen below) was originally built in 942, having been rebuilt after World War II. It is said to hold the ashes of Buddha. Below, I have included a series of pictures detailing the beautiful temple.

Above, the back of the Hozoman Gate includes two examples of waraji, or straw woven sandals, which were considered the standard footwear of Japan's common people.

Often seen in our travels throughout Asia, what initially appears as a Nazi swastika was originally a symbol of peace and spirituality in many of the continent's religions. However, as a western viewer, it always catches me by surprise.

Once beyond the Hozoman Gate, vistors are given the opportunity to waft themselves with incense, thought to help cure the body of aches and pains and improve health.

Like all of the temples we visited in Japan, pictures were not permitted of the inside area of the sacred space, and we generally tried to stay out of the way of those who were visiting here for spiritual reasons.

Even though the structure was rebuilt after World War II, it's still an incredibly awe-inspiring place to take in the scale and beauty of the structure.

Glanced up and saw the beautiful leaves of a nearby ginko tree.

For those looking for a quick refreshment, it wouldn't be Tokyo if there weren't a few vending machines at the ready.

Finally, it was time to say さようなら (goodbye) to Sensoji, and make our return to our hotel.

We walked down Kannondori, which featured lots of restaurants and other interesting shops along the way, back towards our subway station.

Overall, though, the Asakusa neighborhood and Sensoji Temple were excellent additions to our already jam-packed trip to Tokyo. We enjoyed learning more about the different religious traditions of the country, and seeing the awe-inspiring beauty of its temples. Whether you're looking to visit for spiritual reasons, or merely touristic ones, be sure to add Asakusa and Sensoji to any future trips to Japan's capital city!

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Visiting Senso-Ji in Asakusa

English resources about the temple are not always extensive and can be somewhat contradictory. The official website of the temple included a lot of useful information, and I recommend using it as your primary source. The other sources cited in the page above, though, were helpful in learning more about the temple in a general sense.

Entry to the temple area is free, and the grounds seem to be open 24 hours a day. There are a number of public transportation offerings nearby, which will be dependent on the direction you are coming from.

Be mindful that the temple will likely be pretty busy, as it is a bit tourist attraction, as well as important spiritual one. Give yourself adequate time to really enjoy all the little stalls and offshoots that emanate from the main temple grounds - I wish we had had more time myself, but look forward to a future visit someday in the future!

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Day of travel: June 17, 2019