Tokyo Asakusa Traditions: Temples & Shrines

In front of you stands one of the busiest shopping streets in the world! Nakamise Dori is a street leading to Sensoji temple and its wonders. But Nakamise Dori is more than just a shopping street. On this 250-meters-long gallery, you will have the chance to look at 90 unique shops! This tourist market is standing here since the 17th century, so shops are being run by the same family from generation to generation. It is the best place in Tokyo to try Japanese food as well as to buy souvenirs of good quality. Here you can purchase many different gifts like cute chopsticks, geta, yukata, and folding fans.

The Hozomon gate, meaning the Treasure-House Gate in Japanese, is one of the two impressive gates leading to the Senso-Ji temple. This gate is almost 23 meters high and 21 meters wide. But the most impressive part of this gate is what it contains. Two guardians statues are standing on each side of the gate. Those 6-meters-high statues represent Niō, the guardian of deities of the Buddha. Another impressive feature of the Hozomon gate is the presence of three large lanterns. The largest is 4 meters high, weighs 400 kg and hangs right in the center of the gate. It made the gate famous around the world.

Right next to Senso-Ji temple is the Asakusa Shrine. It is quite common in Japan to see two different religious places right next to each other. This Shinto shrine, also known as the Shrine of the Three Gods, honors the three men who founded the Senso-Ji Temple. It is one of the only two buildings in Asakusa that survived World War II, the other one being Senso-Ji Temple itself. You will stand in front of its impressive torii gate, knowing its rich history made it an Important Cultural Property of the Japanese Government in 1951!

Finally, you will walk to Tokyo's oldest and most significant Buddhist temple. Senso-Ji is an amazing part of this tour as you will see stunning things in there. The first one is an impressive five-story pagoda, a significant monument in a temple. The second one is the Kaminarimon, also called the Thunder Gate. This gate is a twin of the Hozomon gate. A massive red and black paper lantern hangs in the center of the gate. The gate contains four statues representing the Shinto gods Fujin and Raijin and Buddhist gods Tenryu and Kinryu. The Senso-Ji Temple is the most visited spiritual site in the world, dedicated to Kannon Bosatsum the Bodhisattva of compassion.

Many fires and catastrophes happened in Asakusa during the Edo Period. In consequence of those events, the shrine has been build. Indeed, the Mitsumine Shrine is a branch of the Mitsumine Shrine located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture. This shrine is known for being the most powerful in the Kanto Region. You will have a different feeling from Senso-Ji Temple and Asakusa Shrine there. Take the time to visit it and enjoy its effects. It is said the Mitsumine Shrine supports people with a strong will.

Nishi-Sando Shopping Street is different from Nakamise Shopping Street. First, you will look at its unique entrance decorated with replicas of hanafuda, a traditional card game. This covered street is different as the floor is made of laid natural cypress and the main color is vermilion. Here, shops have ornamental tiles and lanterns in a Senso-Ji Temple kind of style. You will feel like you traveled back in the Edo period, walking by this 100-meters-long street and its 40 stores. Each one of them sells unique charms, food, and souvenirs.

This step of the tour is special. Denboin garden is the residence of the head priest of Senso-Ji temple. As for, the garden isn't opened to the public all year long. Designated as National Scenic Beauty in 2011, Denboin Garden is a small space of silence and peace in the noisy Asakusa. Rich in nature, you will be able to visit the garden from the middle of March to early May. You will enjoy this 10,000 square meters garden where each part has been carefully taken care of by the priests. It is a typical Japanese garden, with a small pond, flowers and wonderful cherry trees. During this specific period, you will walk on a stone bridge under full bloomed cherry trees while looking at a small waterfall.