Asakusa Senso-ji | Things to do in Tokyo

Senso-ji is the most popular Buddhist temple in Tokyo. Senso-ji Temple was first erected by Haji-no Nakatomo in 628, and later founded by Shokai Shonin in 645.

Senso-ji Temple belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but it became independent as the head temple of the Sho-Kannon sect of Buddhism after the World WarⅡ. 

The honorific mountain name is Kinryusan.Popular lore in Senso-ji Temple says that two brothers (Hinokuma Hamanari and Takenari) discovered a small gilt statue of Kannon Bosatsu in their net while fishing in the nearby Sumida River in 628. 

They brought the statue of Kannon Bosatsu to a village headman. He recognized the religious sanctity of the Statue of Kannon Bosatsu and later enshrined it by remodeling his own home into a chapel in Asakusa. The villagers came here to worship Sho-kannon Bosatsu, the deity of mercy. 

Kaminari-mon is the gate of the Senso-ji and it is a symbol of Asakusa area. There are lot of shops and restaurants.

The Kaminari-mon Gate, the most famous landmark of Asakusa, serves as the first main gate leading to Senso-ji Temple.

The front of the imposing huge vermilion-lacquer lantern displays the gate's name 'KAMINARI-MON" (Thunder Gate) in Kanji.


When the temple gate was relocated, a flanking pair of wooden statues of fearsome Deva King guards as Buddhist protectors of the Kannon-do Hall were placed on either side of the gateway.

Fu-jin stands on the right, while Rai-jin stands on the left . Thus, the gateway was officially named "Furaijin-mon" Gate which is written in Chinese characters on the back side of the lantern.

Both gods are said to be guardians of Buddhist temples because their fierce expressions will drive out evils. They act as a barrier to keep evil forces from entering the temple.

Worshippers offer prayers to these two gods to protect the temple against natural disasters including fires and typhoons. Both gods are also said to be the guardians who bring farmers better harvests, because the wind helps scatter seeds and the rain brought by thunder helps them grow well.

Senso-ji : Address: 2-3-1, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access : Tokyo (Yamanote-line) → Ueno Station → (Ginza -line) Asakusa Station