Senso-ji (浅草寺) is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo. Considered the oldest in Tokyo, Sensoji is one of the main historical and cultural points of Japan, which goes far beyond a Buddhist temple.
The temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon (Avalokiteśvara). According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 by two fishermen. The village chief recognized the sanctity of the statue and began to transform his house into a small temple in Asakusa. In 645 the temple was officially founded!
In addition to the main temple, you will find a Shinto shrine and more than 100 shops with traditional products on the famous street. Nakamise-dori. The Nishinomiya Inari Shrine is located within the Sensō-ji precinct and a torii identifies the entrance to the sacred ground of the sanctuary.
During World War II, the temple was bombed and destroyed. It was later rebuilt and is a symbol of rebirth and peace for the Japanese people. The temple is in a great location, close to the SkyTree tower, Sumida River and Ueno Park.
Exploring Senso-ji Temple
The Nakamise-dori shopping street extends 250m from the temple entrance known as Kaminarimon to the other entrance called Hozomon. Both hold great treasures and stand out for their architecture.
Along the way to the temple, you will find an immense censer cauldron where the visitor can spread incense in a purification ritual. You also find a sacred spring with water to purify your hands and mouth in a ritual called temizu.
As usual in Buddhist temples, you will find a main altar where we perform Omairi (prayer) and offer coins. You can also try your luck with Omikuji. Sensoji also hosts the famous Sanja Matsuri festival and other interesting events.
when going from Sky Tree to Ueno Park I passed through the territory and saw the great movement of tourists. When visiting Sensoji Temple you will experience diverse architecture and historical monuments. In addition to the surroundings full of gardens and smaller temples. You can see more details of a fun ride with our friend Santana's video:
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