Free ! Great to browse the stalls and absorb the atmosphere
Disadvantages:
Crowded at times otherwise none
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Senso-ji Temple (also known as the Asakusa Kannon Temple) is found in the Asakusa quarter of Tokyo, which is renowned for being "Old Japan". It originated in the 7th century and although damaged by earthquakes and fires it has always been rebuilt look like the original.
I stayed nearby in the Sakura Hostel, which incidentally was an excellent, economical, exceptionally clean place to stay with friendly English speaking staff and which was approximately two minutes walk from the Senso-ji Temple.
The best way to approach the Senso-ji Temple is through the Kaminarimon Gate, a huge colourful entrance where you can pick up a rickshaw ride around the city - or pass through the gate onto the Nakamise-dori, a busy shopping street filled with stalls and small shops all toting their traditional foods and souvenirs. This is a pedestrian only street so you don't have to dodge traffic, only people!
Souvenirs range from cheap baskets of trinkets which would probably end up in your "souvenir' drawer at home to colourful, wildly expensive but silky soft kimonos, delicately carved and painted Japanese fans, wood and leather goods and exquisite porcelain figurines. While browsing the stalls tantalising aromas tempt you to taste the traditional Japanese foods. Definitely no need to go hungry, and such a pleasure not to see the usual fast food outlets which seem to lurk around every corner in every city of the world.
After browsing, or buying your souvenirs you pass the second gate (Hozomon) where a five storey pagoda stands nearby. It looks a delicate structure, especially at night when its elegance is outlined by glowing lights - a wonderful subject for cameras and the travel album!
In front of the temple a huge bronze urn burns incense and visitors to the temple wave the smoke over themselves in the belief that it has curative properties before climbing the steps to the temple itself.
The Senso-ji Temple enshrines a golden statue of the goddess of mercy and a constant stream of people worship there. Some went inside to conduct their prayers, others stayed behind the waist height, dividing wall where they could see into the interior through a grille.
Although I would've liked to have gone inside, I decided not to as it is a place of worship and felt it would be inappropriate to disturb the devout worshippers with my curious presence. There was plenty to see on the huge veranda and the opulent interior was clearly visible.
Surrounding the temple, set in peaceful traditional Japanese gardens, colourful flags decorated smaller shrines, huge bronze Buddhas gazed serenely at all who passed and underneath a bridge orange, red and white Koi fish wound their way up and down the small stream. A great place to sit and enjoy!
The best time to visit if you don't like crowds is early in the morning, but to enjoy the atmosphere come late in the afternoon when acrobats and clowns entertain the crowds.
Cost: Free to visit and open from 6am till sunset.
Nearest Station: Asakusa on the Asakusa line or the Ginza line.
How to get there: Exit 3 from the Ginza line will bring you onto the Kaminarimon-dori. Turn right immediately on exit. The Kaminari-mon gate is one block down on your right. Impossible to miss! The red, wooden gate is huge! From the Asakusa line take the "A4" exit and turn right, then left onto Kaminari-mon. The Kaminari-mon gate is across the road slightly to your left.
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