ABOUT
About this spot
Sensō-ji, formally Kinryūzan Sensō-ji, is a Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Taitō City, Tokyo. Its principal image is Shō-Kannon (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), and the temple is affectionately called "Asakusa Kannon." It once belonged to the Tendai school but became independent in 1950 as the head temple of the Shō-Kannon sect. It is regarded as the oldest temple in Tokyo. According to the temple's origin story, the temple began in 628 when two brothers, Hinokuma no Hamanari and Takenari, pulled a statue out of the Sumida River in their fishing net. In 1590 Tokugawa Ieyasu designated it a prayer temple and granted it land, and the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, later supported the rebuilding of the main hall and five-story pagoda. Both buildings were destroyed in the Tokyo air raids of 1945; the present main hall (1958) and pagoda (1973) are reinforced-concrete reconstructions. A visit begins at Kaminarimon (formally Fūraijinmon), the gate at the entrance to the approach. From there, Nakamise-dōri runs about 250 meters to Hōzōmon, lined with souvenir shops; the present shops were rebuilt in 1925 after the Great Kantō Earthquake. Beyond the two-story Hōzōmon stands the main hall, with a five-story pagoda about 48 meters tall beside it. Nitenmon, built in 1618, is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The Dempōin garden, said to be the work of Kobori Enshū, is a national Place of Scenic Beauty but is not normally open to the public. Events run throughout the year, including the needle memorial service on February 8, the Sanja Festival in May, the Hōzuki (ground-cherry) Market on July 9 and 10, and the year-end Battledore Market from December 17 to 19. The main hall opens at 6:00 a.m. (6:30 a.m. from October to March), and early morning is a good time for a quieter visit. Allow roughly one to two hours to walk Nakamise and see the grounds. Tokyo Skytree, Sumida Aquarium and the National Museum of Western Art are all within about two kilometers.
Last updated October 18, 2026