Experience 120% of Senso-ji’s History and Culture: The Complete Senso-ji Travel Guide

Kaminarimon Gate serves as the entrance to Senso-ji and is one of Asakusa’s best-known symbols.
The enormous lantern hanging from the gate, measuring 3.3 m wide and 3.9 m tall, is a popular photo spot.
However, the lantern is not the gate’s only highlight.
Do not miss the dragon carving on the bottom of the lantern, the statues of the gods of thunder and wind on either side of the gate, or the statues of Kinryu and Tenryu on the back.

Hozomon is a large two-story gate standing in front of Senso-ji’s Main Hall.
Like Kaminarimon Gate, it has an enormous hanging lantern, which bears the characters for “Kobunacho.”
Two Nio guardian statues stand on either side of Hozomon Gate. Do not miss Agyo on the left, depicted with an angry expression and open mouth, or Ungyo on the right, depicted with an angry expression and closed mouth.
On the back of the gate, enormous straw sandals intended for the Nio guardians have been dedicated to ward off evil.

Five-story pagodas are Buddhist structures found on the grounds of many temples, not only Senso-ji.
Among them, Senso-ji’s Five-Story Pagoda is one of the most famous.
The pagoda is approximately 53 m tall, roughly equivalent to a 15- to 20-story building.
The top floor houses sacred Buddhist relics said to be the remains of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Senso-ji’s Main Hall is also called Kannondo because it enshrines the temple’s principal image, Sho Kanzeon Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
A 4.5-meter-tall lantern, larger than the one at Kaminarimon Gate, hangs from the hall.
The Dragon Painting in the center of the ceiling and the Celestial Beings paintings on either side are breathtaking.
Photography is prohibited, making these precious works difficult to see elsewhere, so visit the Main Hall and remember to look up at the ceiling.
The Main Hall is believed to help worshippers fulfill their wishes.
Rather than being associated with one specific type of wish, the temple is said to grant wishes of all kinds.

Although it is not widely known, Senso-ji is illuminated every evening from sunset until around 11:00 p.m.
Lit to accentuate their vermilion coloring, Kaminarimon Gate, Hozomon Gate, the Five-Story Pagoda, and the Main Hall take on a different character than they have during the day.

Nakamise Shopping Street is also illuminated after the stores close and their shutters come down, revealing the Asakusa Emaki murals painted across them.
These murals tell the story of Asakusa’s origins and depict traditional seasonal events. Since they can only be seen after the stores close, be sure to view them together with the evening illumination.
There are also fewer worshippers at night than during the day, allowing you to explore Senso-ji at a more relaxed pace.

Located beside Asakusa’s Kaminarimon Gate, Tokiwado Kaminari-okoshi Honpo Kaminarimon Main Store is a long-established okoshi shop with a history of over 200 years.
Kaminari-okoshi is made from rice mixed with ingredients such as peanuts.
At the Kaminarimon Main Store, visitors can watch artisans make the confection and sample freshly prepared, aromatic kaminari-okoshi on the spot. The second-floor Kaminarimon Observation Restaurant serves sweets and light meals with a view of Kaminarimon Gate.

Asakusa Kokonoe, located three storefronts from Senso-ji, is a popular shop frequently featured on television and in magazines.
Its age-manju, which are crisp on the outside and chewy inside, can be purchased individually and eaten on the spot.
There are 11 varieties of age-manju, making it easy to choose one to suit your mood.
In addition to age-manju filled with smooth red bean paste, the shop offers an unusual monjayaki-flavored variety. Try comparing several different flavors.

This shop recreates kibidango once sold on Nakamise Shopping Street during the Edo period and prepares it in front of customers.
Served slightly warm, the soft and chewy kibidango is delicious.
Enjoy it in the eating area beside the shop, paired with chilled matcha in summer or amazake in winter.

Shaped like the lantern at Kaminarimon Gate, a symbol of Asakusa, this confection has a nostalgic appearance that evokes the traditional atmosphere of Tokyo’s old downtown neighborhoods.
The monaka wafers are made with domestically produced glutinous rice and carefully baked to create a light, crisp texture.

Founded in Keio 4 (1868), Kimuraya Honten has the longest history of any ningyo-yaki shop in Asakusa.
Located at the far end of Nakamise Shopping Street, just before Senso-ji’s Hozomon Gate, the shop is always bustling with visitors.
Its signature ningyo-yaki, made by filling a wheat flour and egg batter with smooth red bean paste, follows a recipe created by the shop’s founder. Their restrained sweetness and simple flavor make it tempting to eat one after another.

Exploring Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, in a kimono may make you feel as though you have traveled back in time.
There are many kimono rental and dressing shops near Senso-ji. If you make a reservation in advance, you can arrive empty-handed and still explore the area in a kimono.
To experience traditional Japanese culture firsthand, consider strolling through Senso-ji in kimono.

Omikuji are paper fortunes that predict your luck and convey a message from a Buddhist or Shinto deity.
Senso-ji also offers omikuji, which can be drawn as follows.

Senso-ji’s omikuji are widely rumored to produce kyo, the worst fortune, more frequently than usual. Many people visit the temple to see whether the rumor is true or simply to test their luck.
If you have a wish or something troubling you, try drawing an omikuji.
You may receive a message that helps you fulfill your wish or resolve your concerns.

Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines each have established worship etiquette.
Following the proper customs will not only help you receive the Buddha’s blessings but may also leave you feeling refreshed by the time you depart Senso-ji.

Located in Asakusa, Tokyo, this is Japan’s oldest amusement park. It features many nostalgic attractions that have been operating for decades. In addition to thrilling rides such as Japan’s oldest Roller Coaster, there are plenty of attractions for young children, including the Little Kids Ferris Wheel and the park’s famous Panda Car.

At the center of TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN stands the 634-meter-tall TOKYO SKYTREE, which serves as both a broadcasting tower and tourist attraction. Inside the tower are two observation areas: the Tembo Deck at 350 m and the Tembo Galleria at 450 m. At the base of the tower are TOKYO Solamachi®, where visitors can shop and dine; the TOKYO SKYTREE EAST TOWER office building; KONICA MINOLTA PLANETARIUM “TENKU” in TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN®; and Sumida Aquarium. This popular leisure destination attracts visitors from Japan and abroad, as well as local residents on weekends.

Founded in 1887, this restaurant is known for tendon, a beloved Asakusa specialty. Its tempura is fried exclusively in sesame oil until golden brown. The restaurant takes pride in its distinctive, rich, sweet-and-savory sauce, whose recipe has remained unchanged since it opened.
Several varieties of tendon are available with different toppings. One popular option is the Ebi Tendon, featuring four large shrimp tempura served over rice.

This Shinto shrine stands beside the Main Hall of Senso-ji, the temple famous for Kaminarimon Gate. It is also known as Sanja-sama because it enshrines three local deities associated with the founding of Senso-ji. Although the exact date is unknown, the shrine is believed to have originated as Sanja Gongen-sha, which was founded sometime between the late Heian period and the early Kamakura period.
The current shrine building was constructed by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1649. Having survived repeated fires, wars, and earthquakes, it retains the appearance of that era and was designated a national Important Cultural Property in 1951.

Kappabashi Kitchenware Town is a shopping street stretching approximately 800 m from north to south between Asakusa and Ueno in Tokyo.
This unusual shopping district is home to approximately 170 stores specializing in food-related products, from cookware and tableware to restaurant signs.

Founded in 1887, this restaurant is known for tendon, a beloved Asakusa specialty. Its tempura is fried exclusively in sesame oil until golden brown. The restaurant takes pride in its distinctive, rich, sweet-and-savory sauce, whose recipe has remained unchanged since it opened.
Several varieties of tendon are available with different toppings. One popular option is the Ebi Tendon, featuring four large shrimp tempura served over rice.

Founded in Meiji 28 (1895), this long-established restaurant has been popular with everyone from local residents to tourists for 130 years.
Its signature sukiyaki is made with female Japanese Black beef carefully selected from across Japan by expert buyers.
The restaurant is equally particular about the vegetables essential to sukiyaki, selecting ingredients such as Senju green onions, described as the finest of all green onions, and thick, aromatic shiitake mushrooms that hold their own against the flavor of the sukiyaki sauce.

Founded in 1926, this historic restaurant specializes in kamameshi and is said to have invented the dish.
Each individual serving of rice and ingredients is cooked and served in its own iron pot, carefully prepared to order one pot at a time.
Although it takes approximately 25 minutes to cook, the flavor makes it well worth the wait.

Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa enjoys an outstanding location in central Asakusa, approximately a 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express and an 8-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. It provides convenient access to Asakusa attractions such as Senso-ji and Kaminarimon Gate.
Some guest rooms offer views of TOKYO SKYTREE® or Senso-ji’s Five-Story Pagoda, adding to the atmosphere of your sightseeing trip.

This new cube-style accommodation was created by the MYSTAYS Hotel Group, which operates city hotels, resort hotels, community hotels, and limited-service hotels throughout Japan.
Each sleeping area, known as a cube, offers a spacious interior measuring 100 cm wide, 205 cm long, and 160 cm high. It is equipped with a safe, electrical outlets, and USB charging ports.

An official hotel of TOKYO SKYTREE, one of Tokyo’s landmarks, this property offers views of the tower from its guest rooms and top-floor restaurant.
The nearest station, Kinshicho Station, is approximately 8 minutes from Tokyo Station, making the hotel an ideal base for sightseeing in Tokyo.
A direct bus to Tokyo Disney Resort® is also available exclusively to hotel guests and requires a reservation.
In addition to its convenient location, the hotel offers a wide variety of guest rooms.