Online Hostel Bookings Hostels and inexpensive ryokan from $10 per night!

Car Rentals Compact cars from around 4,000 Yen/day!

Related Pages

Travel Sightseeing Kanto Region Tokyo Asakusa Temple Buddhism Sensoji Temple Meiji Shrine Sengakuji Temple Yasukuni Shrine Zojoji Temple Tokyo: Orientation

Related Questions

Ameyoko  1 reaction, last updated 57 days ago Ueno to Odaiba  1 reaction, last updated 27 hours ago Places of interest after Tsukiji...  3 reactions, last updated 3 days ago How much money will need?  4 reactions, last updated 8 days ago Haneda airport exchange JR Pass...  3 reactions, last updated 8 days ago New Year's Eve in Tokyo  6 reactions, last updated 12 days ago Staying in Asakusa  2 reactions, last updated 14 days ago Rotenburo on high building in...  0 reactions, last updated 15 days ago Yoyogi Park  4 reactions, last updated 15 days ago Walking directions to Kyushu...  3 reactions, last updated 18 days ago

Japan Sightseeing Guide

Hokkaido Sapporo Otaru Hakodate Furano Abashiri Noboribetsu Niseko Lake Toya Daisetsuzan Shiretoko Rishiri Rebun Akan Tohoku Sendai Matsushima Hiraizumi Akita Kakunodate Nyuto Onsen Aomori Hirosaki Lake Towada Shimokita Hanto Dewa Sanzan Aizu Kanto Tokyo Yokohama Kamakura Nikko Kinugawa Hakone Kawagoe Kusatsu Ikaho Minakami Narita Chubu Nagoya Inuyama Mt.Fuji Fujigoko Izu Peninsula Nagano Matsumoto Kamikochi Kiso Valley Hakuba Yudanaka Sado Island Takayama Shirakawa-go Gujo Gero Onsen Kanazawa Kansai Kyoto Osaka Nara Kobe Himeji Kinosaki Mount Koya Kumano Yoshino Amanohashidate Hikone Iga Ueno Ise Shima Chugoku Hiroshima Miyajima Onomichi Okayama Kurashiki Matsue Iwami Ginzan Iwakuni Yamaguchi Hagi Shikoku Takamatsu Kotohira Naoshima Matsuyama Uchiko Kochi Tokushima Naruto Kyushu Fukuoka Dazaifu Nagasaki Kumamoto Mount Aso Minamata Beppu Miyazaki Takachiho Kagoshima Kirishima Yakushima Okinawa Honto Miyako Yaeyama

Survey

How can tourism in Japan be improved? More foreign language information Preserve natural and historic sites Ease immigration requirements Reduce cost of travel Make sights less crowded Other No improvement needed see results Other Surveys: Budget for ryokan stay Next trip to Japan Improvements to Tourism Financial Crisis Ski Destination Preferred way to stay at a ryokan Purpose of visit Most popular region Have you recently entered Japan?

japan-guide.com newsletter

Keeping you up to date on Japan travel and living related issues and site updates. Click here to subscribe!

Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kanto - Tokyo - Asakusa
Sensoji Temple	# 16   of 49 sights in Tokyo

Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, the center of the shitamachi (lit. "low town"). The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built there for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple. Construction Notice: Sensoji's main hall is currently under renovation and covered by scaffolding. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2010. The temple grounds and the interior of the main hall can be visited during the renovation works. Main hall covered by scaffolding on November 18, 2009 When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of the Sensoji and symbol of Asakusa. A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. Besides typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries. Osenbei (rice crackers) Folding Fans Yukata and T-shirts from left to right: Kibidango - Skewered kibi-balls covered with soybean powder; top: Agemanju - deep fried manju (soft cake with red bean paste filling); bottom: Ningyoyaki - small cake with red bean paste filling; Kibidango Shop Beyond the Hozomon main gate stands the temple's main building and a five storied pagoda. The Asakusa Shrine, built in the year 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu can be found close by the temple's main building. Various events are held throughout the year in the Sensoji Temple area. Some of them are: Sanja Matsuri - May: one of Tokyo's three major festivals. Hozuki-ichi (Hozuki Market) - July: Hozuki are ground cherries, a typical summer plant in Japan. Asakusa Samba Carnival - August Tokyo Jidai Matsuri - November: a festival commemorating the history of Tokyo and the Edo culture. Hagoita-ichi (Hagoita Market) - December: Hagoita is the wooden paddle used in Hanetsuki, a traditional game that resembles badminton. Click here to read more about Hanetsuki and the Hagoita Market. Inside the main hall

How to get there

Sensoji Temple is a few steps from Asakusa Station, served by the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line and Tobu Railways. From Tokyo Station Take the JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station (2 minutes, 130 Yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 160 Yen). From Shinjuku Station Take the orange JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station (10 minutes, 160 Yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 160 Yen). Orientation in Tokyo

Hours and Fees

Hours: Main hall: 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 from October to March) Temple grounds: Always open Closed: No closed days Admission: Free

News and Reports

Tokyo Autumn Color Report November 18, 2009 Takaosan Autumn Color Report November 16, 2009 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Report April 10, 2009 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Report April 6, 2009 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Report April 2, 2009 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Report March 31, 2009 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Report March 29, 2009 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Report March 26, 2009

Travel Community

Popularity of Sensoji Temple: Users who have been to Tokyo: 2644 Users who have been to Sensoji Temple: 740 16th of 49 most visited sights in Tokyo. 24th of 554 most visited sights nationwide. Have you been to Sensoji Temple? No - I have not been there yetYes - no ratingYes - highly recommendedYes - recommendedYes - mildly interestingYes - nothing specialYes - not recommended Ratings for Sensoji Temple: japan-guide.com Rating:   outstanding   User Rating (by 424 users): 86/100   recommended User Feedback We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

Hotel and Ryokan

Sponsored Listings: Sakura Hostel Perfect for budget travelers and backpackers! Largest hostel in Tokyo. Friendly staff, cozy rooms, 24-hour internet lounge. Khaosan Tokyo Guest House No.1 Hostel Group in Tokyo. 4 branches located in Asakusa & Akihabara area. Finally opened a new branch "SAMURAI"! Aizuya-inn Free internet, hot drinks, friendly foreign staff, and a warm welcome are what you will find at this Tokyo inn. Oak Hotel Budget hostel & hotel in the heart of Tokyo. Group booking, ISIC discount accepted. Search Hotels: In: Tokyo Fukuoka Hiroshima Hokkaido Kamakura Kanazawa Kansai Airport Kyoto Mount Fuji Nagasaki Nagoya Nara Narita Airport Nikko Niigata Okinawa Osaka Sapporo Sendai Shima Peninsula Takayama Tokyo From: 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 2009 2010 For: 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights Website: JAPANiCAN Hostel World Japan Hotels Online

Tours and Packages

Tokyo Tours Various tours and travel packages for Tokyo and surroundings.