For me, Sensoji Temple is not only one of Tokyo's most famous tourist temples, but also the starting point of my later pilgrimage to the “Three Great Kannon Temples.”
The first time Sensoji made a special impression on me was when I visited during the year-end Toshi no Ichi fair. Sensoji's Toshi no Ichi is held every year around December 17 to 19, and its most iconic event is the Hagoita Market. Stalls selling all kinds of decorative battledores gather throughout the temple grounds, making it a traditional Tokyo event filled with a year-end atmosphere.
Compared with an ordinary sightseeing visit, Toshi no Ichi had a strong, down-to-earth New Year's feeling. Under the warm, dim lighting, the lines of each battledore looked softer, as if they had their own filter. I usually tend to keep my distance from dolls with human faces, but surrounded by the lights and darkness that night, the battledores somehow had a lively and gorgeous beauty.
A photo I took at that Toshi no Ichi later unexpectedly won a participation prize in a photography event. It had been more than ten years since I had last won anything, which made me feel an even more mysterious connection with Asakusa Kannon.
Later, I returned to thank Kannon for the blessing and nervously drew a fortune, only to get “small blessing.” At the same time, I prayed for my upcoming trip to Saihoji Temple to go smoothly. Although it rained all the way through Tokyo until I left on the overnight bus, the weather cleared after I arrived in Kyoto. That also made the visit especially memorable for me.
On several later visits, I never drew a “bad luck” fortune from Kannon. People often say Sensoji has a fairly high proportion of bad fortunes, so I always feel a little nervous before drawing one. But I made it through safely each time, which felt like a small blessing to me. I know drawing fortunes is ultimately a matter of probability, but while traveling, sometimes you really treasure coincidences that work out just right.
Perhaps because of what happened afterward, along with the fact that I didn't get a bad fortune in any of my three draws, now whenever I go to Tokyo and have enough time, I try to visit Sensoji again to pray. For me, it is no longer just a place that's a “must-visit on your first trip to Tokyo,” but more like a place where I check in with Kannon at the start of or during each trip and pray for safe travels. I am very grateful for Kannon's protection along the way, and I hope I can continue coming back to worship on every future trip to Tokyo.
Sensoji Temple | Review by Holly
Other Reviews by Holly
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TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN® Dream Christmas
At TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN®, a commercial complex composed of TOKYO SKYTREE® and TOKYO Solamachi®, special Christmas events are held annually from early November. The entire town is enveloped in a Christmas mood with illuminations, a Christmas market, and projection mapping.
I happened to be here during the event, so I made a special trip to soak up the Christmas atmosphere. In addition to the Christmas market, all of TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN is decorated with large-scale illuminations, Christmas trees, and limited-time light shows during the event. It really feels festive at night.
The Christmas market itself is mainly focused on food, with lots of options such as hot dishes, desserts, and drinks. There is also a seating area, but it gets quite crowded, so there don't seem to be enough seats. Prices are also typical for a tourist destination, so it's not cheap, but they really do create a festive atmosphere. With the lights, decorations, and TOKYO SKYTREE all together, I thought it was pretty nice, especially since I rarely get to experience a Christmas atmosphere like this.
If you're planning to visit, I'd recommend checking the schedule for TOKYO SKYTREE's special lighting or projection shows that day, then planning your visit to the market around them. That way, you can eat, see the Christmas decorations, and enjoy the limited-time light show all in one trip. Overall, it's more worthwhile than coming just for the market. -
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Narita International Airport
The international airport and gateway to Tokyo, visited by 44 million travelers each year (as of 2019). Opened in 1978, this world-famous airport (airport code NRT) has ferried over 6 million flights both in and out of Japan. The airport grounds include 3 different passenger terminals, a freight terminal and is currently planning to open a new runaway in addition to its two runways currently open.
This time I arrived at Narita Airport pretty early, so I actually had time to look around at the airport facilities. What really impressed me was that there were seats with power outlets and workspaces near the check-in counters. My first thought was, “This is way too corporate-slave-like,” but thinking about it, international airports do have many business travelers who need to handle last-minute work, so having a place to sit down and use a computer is actually very thoughtful.
The baggage services before departure are also comprehensive. Each terminal has a baggage repacking area and scales, so you can check the weight before the airline counters open. In my experience, the numbers were pretty close to those at the airline counter, so you can adjust your luggage ahead of time. Terminal 1 also has a luggage-wrapping service, so if you're worried about your suitcase getting scratched or damaged during handling, you can arrive early and take care of that.
After immigration, there are still duty-free shops, restaurants, and stores all the way to some of the boarding areas, so it's not like there's nothing once you pass through security. But compared with Kansai Airport, which has been renovated in recent years, I personally found Narita's shopping area a little more modest. Food prices weren't outrageously high, though. What really stood out to me instead was the price of bottled water.
I also really like the capsule toy machines at Narita Airport. You can see quite a few machines as soon as you arrive at the airport by train, with everything from popular characters to more obscure designs. If you still have some 100-yen coins left at the end of your trip, this is a great place to use up your change, and sometimes you can even find items you might not come across in the city. -
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Ginza Itoya Main store
The Stationary Specialty store was established in 1904, Alongside department stores and luxury brand shops, in Ginza. The main store building symbolized by a bright red paper clip was renovated in 2015.
If you're a stationery lover, Ginza Itoya is definitely worth visiting when you're in Tokyo. Each floor is organized by a different type of stationery, with clear categories covering everything from fountain pens, planners, paper goods, and cards to art supplies. There are especially many high-quality products with distinctive designs, making them great as gifts for others or yourself.
However, although Ginza Itoya has many floors, each floor is actually not that large, so I wouldn't recommend visiting with luggage, as the aisles will feel even more crowded. Its selection also isn't geared toward everyday stationery, but focuses more on fountain pens, planners, paper, art supplies, and design-oriented stationery. The paper goods and writing instruments in particular are really worth taking your time to browse.
Overall, Ginza Itoya is more of a place for stationery lovers to broaden their horizons and shop for premium stationery, rather than a stationery store focused simply on variety or getting everything in one place. -
