| The spiritual heart of Asakusa, and for that | | | | before entering the main ground of the |
| matter Tokyo, is the impressive Sensoji | | | | temple. |
| Buddhist Temple. Built sometime in the 7th | | | | |
| century before Tokyo was even Edo, to house | | | | The main ground itself buzzes with accents |
| the golden statue of Kannon, the goddess of | | | | from all over the world and the click of |
| mercy, which, according to legend was fished | | | | cameras. Travelers and locals mix on the |
| out of the nearby Simudagawa, by two local | | | | temple grounds, uniting in their mission to |
| fisherman brothers. Despite their efforts to | | | | pay their respects. 100 yen will buy you an |
| return Kannon to the river where she was | | | | omikuji (fortune written on a small piece of |
| found, the statue kept finding its way back | | | | paper). You place the money in an honor box |
| to them. Subsequently a temple was built to | | | | and shake a small cylinder containing sticks |
| house the goddess. Sensoji is Tokyo's only | | | | with numbers written on them. Shake the |
| agreed tourist attraction, and is visited | | | | cylinder until one of the sticks falls out |
| daily by hundreds of tourists and worshipers | | | | and pull your fortune from a drawer with the |
| from Japan and all over the world. | | | | corresponding number. If your fortune is bad, |
| | | | tie the paper onto a nearby string so that |
| Arriving from Asakusa subway station, Sensoji | | | | the wind can disperse the bad luck. |
| is entered through Kiminarimon ("Thunder | | | | |
| Gate"). A majestic structure that houses two | | | | Center stage in the temple forecourt is an |
| protective deities: Fuijin, the god of wind, | | | | incense burner. Here you will usually see a |
| on the right, and Raijin, the god of thunder, | | | | group of visitors fanning smoke from the |
| on the left. These ferocious gods oversee all | | | | burning incense over themselves. The incense |
| who enter the temple and keep the grounds | | | | is believed to have healing powers, and so |
| safe. | | | | fanning the smoke over your ailment will help |
| | | | to heal it. If you suffer from headache, fan |
| Once inside the gate, you will come to | | | | some of the smoke over your head. |
| Nakamise-dori. This shopping street, set | | | | |
| within the actual temple precinct, has a | | | | The main temple hall still houses the golden |
| history all of its own. These stalls and | | | | statue of Kannon, a diminutive 6cm tall, and |
| their proprietors are a living part of a | | | | is viewable by the public. Step forward to |
| centuries old tradition of selling wares to | | | | cast some coins in the offer box, which sits |
| the pilgrims visiting the temple. | | | | in front of the alter, take a step back, |
| | | | place your hands together, prey and then bow. |
| In the late 17th century, neighbors of the | | | | This is the standard practice of preying at a |
| Sensoji who received and served visitors to | | | | Buddhist temple. |
| the temple, were rewarded by being given a | | | | |
| special right to open shops to sell their | | | | To the left of the forecourt and forming part |
| wares along the approach to the temple. | | | | of the temple, is the 5 story (53 meter) |
| | | | pagoda. A 1973 reconstruction of the original |
| This continued until 1885, when the Tokyo | | | | pagoda built on the same ground. This is the |
| metropolitan government, having taken control | | | | largest pagoda in Tokyo. |
| of the land belonging to Sensoji, ordered all | | | | |
| Nakamise merchants to leave and in the same | | | | Destroyed by earthquakes and World War Two |
| year built western style brick shops, leading | | | | aerial bombings, Sensoji Temple has been |
| to the beginning of modern Nakamese. | | | | rebuilt and reconstructed time and time |
| | | | again. Testament to the significance it holds |
| Today you can find everything from tourist | | | | within the Buddhist community and the general |
| trinkets, such as folding fans, to | | | | public. A remembrance of centuries old values |
| traditional Japanese clothing including | | | | and traditions that carry on today within |
| kimonos and yukata, to local snack foods. | | | | Tokyo's chaotic lifestyle, Sensoji is a |
| Stretching out for some 200 meters, | | | | steadying reminder that despite warring |
| Nakamise-dori is the perfect place to while | | | | nations and new technology, some things will |
| away an hour and pick up a souvenir or two | | | | always remain. |