Senso-ji Temple
"Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest and most famous Buddhist temple (founded 645 AD), located in Asakusa. The entrance features the iconic Kaminarimon ('Thunder Gate') with a massive red lantern. Walk through Nakamise shopping street (200m of souvenir stalls) to reach the main hall. The temple is free, always open, and stunningly beautiful when lit at night. It's the most touristy temple but also the most photogenic and historically significant."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Historic, crowded
Duration
1-2 hours
Best For
Photography
The Backstory
According to legend, two fishermen found a golden statue of Kannon (goddess of mercy) in the Sumida River in 628 AD. A temple was built to house it. Senso-ji was destroyed in WWII air raids and rebuilt in the 1950s. The current structures are concrete replicas of the originals, but the spiritual significance remains. It's Tokyo's most-visited religious site.
Local Secret
"Visit early morning (6-7am) or late evening (after 8pm) to avoid crushing crowds and tour groups. The temple grounds are open 24/7, but shops close around 6pm. Do the traditional ritual: purify hands at the water fountain, light incense, shake the fortune sticks (omikuji) for ¥100. If you get bad luck (凶), tie it to the rack to leave it behind. The five-story pagoda is beautiful at night."