Asakusa Senso-ji Temple

Asakusa Sensoji has a legend that goes back to 628 when two brothers fished out a statue of Kannon (goddess of mercy) from the Sumida River. The brothers however, returned the statue back to the river and somehow always came back. Thus, Sensoji was later built to house the Kannon statue and was completed in 645 making it the oldest temple in Tokyo. Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is the main gate that most people enter through. It is known for the large red paper lantern hanging in the center. The gate is iconic of Sensoji and is the symbol of Tokyo.

Once you are passed the Kaminarimon you will be greeted by a shopping street that is 200 meters long. The area is known as Nakamise and has existed for more than several centuries. You can find various souvenirs from clothes to local traditional snacks. The main hall is beyond the Hozomon Gate along with a five-storied pagoda. Close to the main hall is the Asakusa Shrine, which was built in 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is an annual festival held by the Asakusa Shrine in May called Sanja Matsuri. Sanja Matsuri is the largest festival of the shrine where there are processions on the first day and the next has a parade of 100 neighborhood mikoshi (portable shrine). Asakusa Sensoji tends to be very crowded on holidays and weekend since it is a popular tourist spot.