“An amazing temple in the heart of Asakusa”

Sensō-ji is a Buddhist Temple in Asakusa and the oldest temple in Tokyo. The entrance to the temple is marked by a giant red and white lantern, and probably the largest lantern I have seen in my life. This section is known as Kaminarimon, or the Thunder Gate. Standing either side of the gate are two large statues, the one on the left, I am told, is Fūjin, the god of wind; and to the right, Raijin, the god of thunder. Next up on the way to the temple is a row of over 80 stalls selling fans, umbrellas, souvenirs, various foodstuffs (bean paste buns and rice crackers appear to be popular today), clothing, handbags, and one stall claiming to sell tortoise shell and coral. This section is called Nakamise-Dori, and creates a beautiful lantern lit road of stalls leading to the Temple. In the temple courtyard stands Goju-no-To, a five-story pagoda, and at 53 meters tall is the second highest pagoda in the whole of Japan. Before the entrance to the temple there is a huge cauldron that bellows out incense in the form of thick smoke. The cauldron is the last thing before the entrance to the Hondō, or Main Hall. Once inside the Main Hall there is apparently a golden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy; the statue is said to have been fished out of a lake in the year 628 AD by two fishermen. I get my fortune from the temple and am pleased to say it is the 'Best Fortune'. It tells me to build a new house. Overall, Sensō-ji is an amazing temple, and one of my favourite attractions in Asakusa, and perhaps even Tokyo.