SensÅ-ji Temple, (æĩ čå¯ē, SensÅji), is not only Tokyoâs oldest and most historically significant Buddhist site, but it also stands as the cityâs most visited spiritual destination, drawing over 30 million annual visitors through its iconic Kaminarimon gate and vibrant Nakamise-dÅri shopping street, situated at Asakusa, Taito city, Tokyo.
â Main hall (prayer hall)
â Thunder Gate
â Giant Lantern
â Furaijinmon- The God of Thunder and wind
â Beautiful Art pieces
â Thunder Gate and Tokyo Skytree
Stepping through the massive red lantern of the Thunder Gate, visitors to Asakusa are instantly transported from modern Tokyo into the historic heart of the Edo period, where the scent of incense and the bustle of Nakamise-dÅri lead the way to SensÅ-ji, the ancient temple built to house a golden statue of the Bodhisattva of Compassion. P-71
â Thunder Gate and Tokyo Skytree
â Big Lantern
â Simmering Hall
I wanna take a look upon the illuminated thunder gate, main hall and 5 storayed pagoda beacause they ar too shinny and eye cachy. I have reached there at 21:00 and that time also so crowded, the premises is complimenting with Tokyo sky tree as well. Sky tree as blinking in diff shades of color and also spinning the colour adjacent.
â @Trishatishu & @Rahbar
Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) - éˇé
This is the outer, defining entrance gate of SensÅ-ji and a global symbol of Asakusa. The gate is flanked by two fierce guardian statues: FÅĢjin (God of Wind) on the right and Raijin (God of Thunder) on the left, placed there to protect the temple.
â Kaminarimon Gate
â the thunder Gate with Skytree
Giant Lantern is Hanging in the center is a massive, iconic red paper lantern, measuring nearly 4 meters tall and weighing about 700 kilograms. The current gate was rebuilt in 1960 thanks to a donation from Konosuke Matsushita (founder of Panasonic).
HÅzÅmon (Treasure-House Gate) - åŽčĩé
Inner Guardian This gate is the second major gate and marks the entrance to the main temple grounds. It features two powerful NiÅ guardian statues.
Giant Sandals On the back side of the gate, you will see two enormous waraji (straw sandals) hanging, each weighing 400 kg. They symbolize the strength of the NiÅ guardians and are meant to ward off evil spirits. The gate also stores various Buddhist scriptures and temple treasures, giving it the name Treasure-House Gate.
â The Giant Sandal
â The Japanese Artwork
â The giant Lantern
Kannon-dÅ (Main Hall) - čĻŗéŗå
This is The Center of Worship where the revered Kannon statue is secretly enshrined. An Incense Burner (JokÅro) Located in front of the Main Hall, visitors often gather around the large incense burner to waft the smoke over themselves. This ritual is believed to bring good health, healing, and purification.
â The Main prayer hall
â The main hall gateway
Five-Storied Pagoda (GojÅĢ-no-tÅ) - äēéåĄ
The Skylines Feature Standing about 55 meters tall to the left of the Main Hall, this towering pagoda houses a relic of the Buddhaâs ashes (Busshari), which were gifted from Sri Lanka. The view with Tokyo Skytree was spectacular.
â The 5-storeyed Pagoda
â The 5 storeyed pagoda with skytree view
The History and Founding Legend
The earliest iteration of the temple was completed in 645 AD by the Buddhist priest ShÅkai. The history, according to the templeâs official records (Engisho ), begins much earlier in 628 AD with the miraculous discovery of the Kannon statue.
â The Temple entrance view
On the morning of March, 628 AD, two local fishermen brothers, Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari , were casting their nets in the nearby Sumida River. Instead of fish, they repeatedly drew out a small, golden statue
â the main hall view
Despite throwing the mysterious object back into the river many times, it always returned to their nets. They brought the statue to their village chief, Hajino Nakamoto .
â the night ambience
The chief, recognizing the figure as the holy Kannon Bosatsu , was struck by its sanctity. He converted his own home into a small temple to enshrine the statue, dedicating his life to worshipping it. This humble home became the genesis of SensÅ-ji.
â the 5- storied pagoda and karimono gate
â The main hall ritual
â the guardian deities, Bodhisattva Kannon, the god of mercy
Dragon and statue of the God of Mercy. Omizuya chozuya Temizuya water basin, the Purification Fountain.
In 645 AD, the Buddhist monk ShÅkai ShÅnin formally built a worship hall (Kannon-dÅ ) on the site. Following a revelation in a dream, he decided the miraculous Kannon statue was too sacred for human eyes. He officially designated it as a Hibutsu (Secret Buddha) , a statue that must be hidden and never shown to the public . This tradition continues to this day, as noted as Formal Foundation day.
â Omikuji Drawers
â Bad fortune paper hanged on this hanger
â Omikuji- how to draw a fortune telling paper
In the Edo Period (1603-1867), Tokugawa Ieyasu , the first Tokugawa Shogun, designated SensÅ-ji as the official place of prayer for the shogunate, establishing its immense popularity among the common people of Edo (Tokyo).
â Japanese street art
â Pet friendly Temple ground
Like much of Tokyo, the original Main Hall and many other structures were destroyed during the Great Tokyo Air Raid on March 10, 1945 , during World War II. The current, beautiful complex is a postwar reconstruction, with the Main Hall rebuilt in 1958 , symbolizing Japanâs resilience and rebirth.
â Seson-ji Temple street
â Seson-ji Temple street
Its been a inaugural moment to meet with @MahabubMunna and @Designer_Biswajit at Senso-ji temple, being a local guide meeting with other Local Guides is the amazing thing. And this cherished moment will remain forever. Me and @Rahbar also enjoyed the ambience with all very much.
â We 3 of us
You can take a look about my post regaring Japanese Temple- Shibarare jizo a rope tied-up statue
Mentioning @TravellerG Ji. Hope you can find the enough interest to explore it.
How to get there
Neratest station: Asakusa Station(Asakusa Line, Ginza Line)
Bus: 39no, 63no, 64no, 42-1no, 26no
Admission: Free of cost
Closing and opening time: 6:00-17:00 (Prayer Time)
Temple Illumination: 17:00-2300
Temple Ground: 24/7 Open
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes 
Pet Friendly : Yesâ
Parking : Difficult to find parking
Restroom: Yes
