Sensoji Temple: The Heart Of Tokyo

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