Sensō-ji

Sensoji Temple is really, really big. The main temple itself is quite large, with lots of space for worshippers. There are various areas where one can participate in temple rituals — be sure to bring some coins as an offering as well as to buy incense and candles.
The temple stamp stand is to the left of the temple. It costs 500¥ for the nicer stamp design, which I did opt for. There are also a lot of smaller worship areas dedicated to different smaller gods all around the temple as well as a pagoda.
It’s super crowded during the afternoon hours so be sure to go either really early in the morning or later in the afternoon!

First temple in Japan i’ve visited and I must say, it really is as good as it gets. Lots of things to see, specially at that time we were there. There was a Sanja Matsuri festival where men and women held their Mikoshi (s). This is said to bring luck, blessing and abundance to the land and their inahbitants. It was a sacred moment for them but it was surely fun and lively. It was festive seeing people wearing their Kimonos while chanting some sort of praise. It was a packed and hot day, but still, I enjoyed every bit of it. At that time, there was also crazy number of food stalls offering goodies from Grilled pork belly, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, taiyaki, etc.
The temple itself is hard to get into as it was crowded at that day but we were able to get up and see it closely. Take lots of pictures, everything is picture perfect and the architectural feature of the temple is beyond amazing.

I was here during Golden Week, and the trains, streets, and gate were packed. I would definitely check out this temple. There are plenty of things to see: souvenirs, food, incense, a small rushing river, carp streamers, and cherry blossoms (still there in May). I love going through the grounds after 10 pm when there are no visitors. It’s amazing how packed it gets in the day.

The first temple that we visited on our trip to Tokyo. It’s very crowded even the rain was pouring non stop. It’s nice to watch people do the Japanese, the temple and buddhist tradition such as washing and purifying your hands and mouth at the dragon fountain, the incense, and of course the paper fortune (I dare you to do that and find out if you will get the good or bad) — but whatever you got, I believe it’s your faith whether you will believe it or not. Bring some cash/​coins with you.
I didn’t like that it was raining but I did enjoyed the temples, cherry blossoms flowers and trees everywhere. I also enjoyed the most those vendors and shops that do sell green tea. Please bring cash with you, no one will accept your card. If you are a fan of green tea, a lot of stores are giving away a free samples of hot green tea, which is perfect for that weather and it’s all so tasty, fresh from Japan.

Make sure to pass by here on your visit to Tokyo, Japan. This is located by Asakusa station and is walking distance from it. The Temple is just stunning, a must see. The ground area of the temple is not very big but is beautiful done. The details of the statues and building is just beautiful to look at as well. The trees and gardens surrounding areas are well kept.
Even though, I believe in a different God, I see the people really treasure theirs and their beliefs. We don’t have temples like this in our area. Even our churches don’t look like this but I would love to have something this extravagant to say my prayers. ;-)
After being in the temple, there are many eatery places and the Asakusa Nakamise shopping area to go to after. By the way, prepare for the crowds. This is a very popular tourist spot. =D

The Senso Temple is an absolutely stunning temple located on amazing grounds within Asakusa. This place is an absolute must see when visiting Tokyo as it has pretty much anything for anyone. In front of the temple there are a ton of shops and eateries that really build on the overall ambiance of the temple grounds. Realistically, words can’t exactly describe the beauty of this particular location but i must say that I have been here SEVERAL times and will continue to come back just to take it all in.
Pros–
Beautiful grounds
Shops
Eateries
Very picturesque
Awesome place to look around and relax
Historical context
Cons–
VERY CROWDED

I would say if you make a trip out to Tokyo, this is the temple you HAVE to come check out. It’s bustling at all times of the day and lots of things to see (and especially eat)!
It’s not a huge temple in terms of square meters, but it is grandiose enough where you’re obligated to take touristy photos in front of the huge «雷門» sign. As well, the main shrine has a huge incense burner, so watch the staff members come out and make it lit!
You’ll first hit the shopping street, which I guarantee you’ll stop at and check out the delicious snacks and random gadgets. Some are awesome souvenirs but don’t be fooled by some of the cheap toys!
Everyone focuses on the main shrine, but try to make it out to the west garden area. Very tranquil and a few Buddha statues. Also, it’s an intersection that leads to «花月堂» to get that awesome melon pan!

Senso-​ji is a huge, beautiful, but very touristy temple located in Akasuka, Tokyo. It’s easy to get to from public transport. Right before you get into the main temple area, there is a long street (Nakamise Dori) that is lined with vendors selling trinkets, snacks, etc. Each vendor pretty much sells nearly the exact same thing at marked-​up prices, so if you can wait to get your souvenirs elsewhere, I would do that. The actual temple area is comprised of the temple buildings plus various gardens and other smaller shrines. It’s nice to walk around, but very difficult to get away from the crowds.

Super touristy but still a MUST VISIT when in Tokyo. It’s Tokyo’s oldest temple and filled with tradition. You can burn purchase incense and wave the smoke over your head to rid your negative energy, wash and purify your hands and mouth at the dragon fountain, and get an omikuji paper fortune (can be good or bad) from a drawer that matches the stick that you shake out from a metal cylinder.
The street from the Asakusa subway station to Sensoji Temple is also adorned with many souvenir shops and traditional street food for the complete experience. They ask that you do not walk and eat. They have designated areas by each stall where you can eat/​drink.

When I was here a dozen years ago, it was crowded but not nearly the salmon run it felt like on my most recent visit where Jamie W. and I felt like we were swimming upstream in an overwhelming sea of locals and tourists. We were particularly appalled by the number of selfie sticks that were doubling as weapons of unintended anal intrusion. This is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple and obviously its most popular judging by the busloads that pour out in front of Kaminari-​mon Gate where the huge red paper lantern hangs (photo:
).
If you can make your way through the gate unscathed, you can see the two massive gods guarding the entrance, Raijin and Fujin, although they’re obscured by the wire mesh. Next comes the long walkway of souvenir and confectionery shops on Nakamise-​dori. Perhaps because of the faux-​cherry blossom adornments on their rooftops but more likely because of the constant zoo-​like atmosphere, I have never been tempted to stop at any of these shops, but this is where you buy anything from paper fans to samurai swords to osenbei (rice crackers) (photo:
).
It can get frustrating to navigate your way through, and my suggestion is to bypass the dori by walking on the paths on either side. Once you have completed this section, you’re at the real main temple gate, the Hozomon, and to the left is the five-​storied pagoda, one of the few to be found in Tokyo proper. Finally at the end of the walk is the temple itself (photo:
) where you can replenish yourself at the purification fountain (photo:
) or buy incense sticks or «omikuji» fortunes. Don’t forget to get your melon bread at Kagetsudō where all the schoolchildren are lined up (photo:
).

Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, is one of Tokyo’s most popular temples. The story goes: back in the year 628, two or three fishermen found the statue of Kannon, goddess of mercy, in the Sumida River. Although they returned it back to the river, it kept coming back to them. Then, Sensoji Temple was built for the goddess.
In front of the temple is a large cauldron of incense. The smoke that comes from it is said to bestow good health, so people would waft the incense fumes all over their bodies. The five story pagoda is modeled after a similar structure at Daigoji Temple in Kyoto. There is a tea garden next to it that is not open to the public.
At this temple, Stephanie S. and I decided to try our luck with another omikuji. We each put a 100 yen coin into the slot, picked up the metal omikuji container, and shook it until a wooden stick came out. We got our numbers and opened the drawers that corresponded to our numbers. Her piece of paper says, «best luck,» while mine said, «bad luck.»
What.
Thinking I could change my luck around, I went to pray and then went back to the omikuji table for another fortune. I shake the metal container for a little longer and prayed in my head that I pull a better fortune this time around.
Another «bad luck» fortune.
Grrrreat… At this point, I tell Steph we should just leave in case any more bad juju follows me. I know it’s all superstition, but it’s definitely NOT a good feeling getting bad fortunes!
Luckily, Steph didn’t have to do much to cheer me up because right after we left the temple, we came across Nakamise Dori!

I’m going to explain five points on this temple to a foreigner from the standpoint of the Japanese person who I am.
1. Most large temples in Japan have large metal incense burners.
2. People buy incense sticks, throw them in the pot and allow the smoke to cover their heads as a way to purify themselves before entering the temple from bad spirits. This is a religious custom that only happens at temples, not shrines.
3. Buddhism and Shinto are the two main religions in Japan. Temples are Buddhist and shrines follow Shinto customs.
4. When visiting a temple, it’s customary to buy an «omikuji» or paper-​fortune. This is a small piece of paper on which one’s fortune is written. some fortunes are good and some are not.
5. There is no specific time when someone can or should buy a paper-​fortune. Many people will buy one when they visit a temple, particularly at New Years.
Generally speaking, Japanese people don’t consider themselves very religious even though most follow both Buddhist and Shinto religious customs. One of the most commons is to purify one’s self with incense smoke before entering a temple. This because people believe the incense smoke purifies them from bad spirits. When visiting a temple, it’s also customary, although not required, to buy a paper-​fortune.
Interior of the main hall; (According to Japanese Wikipedia)
1. Incense table, where incense is burned for the spirits of the dead.
2.Koro, incense hearth.
3. Cushion where priest sits to read the scriptures.
4. Mokugyo; fish-​shaped wooden percussion instrument.
5. Kinsu; a kind of percussion instrument made of metal, struck when the Budhist scriptures are about to be read.
6. Kyuden; a model palace.

Asakusa is a district in Tokyo synonymous with temples. The most well known of these is Sensō-​ji. With a long layover in Tokyo, I put it on my itinerary to visit this attraction in the limited time that I had in this city.
It is pretty easy to get there from Tokyo Station on Tokyo Metro. Take the Marunouchi Line one stop to Ginza Station. Then get on the Ginza Line and take it to the final stop in Asakusa. As you walk towards the temple, you will pass through Nakamise Shopping Street. At the end of Nakamise, you will find the entrance to Sensō-​ji.
I have been to shrines and temples in other cities in Japan, so I didn’t find this one much different. But I did find the use of red color at this temple very striking and the lanterns with calligraphy on them to be eye catching. The temple attracts many domestic and international tourists in addition to the local worshipers who come here to pray.
Sensō-​ji is the main reason to visit Asakusa along with Nakamise Shopping Street. You could easily spend an hour or two or more at these attractions.

Fue nuestro primer templo y es simplemente hermoso e impecable. Este templo budista es majestuoso, tiene un edificio principal, una pagoda de 5 pisos, y algunos edificios secundarios más chiquitos. En el edificio principal podés sacar tu fortuna: primero pagás 100 yenes que se depositan en una caja que está ahí, luego agitás otra caja y sacás al azar un palito con una escritura (en japonés) y luego buscás esa escritura entre un montón de cajones que tenés en frente, abrís el que te corresponde y sacás un papel con tu fortuna. Si te tocó una buena fortuna lo conservás, y sino tenés que atarlo en unos hilos cerca para que no se cumpla. Una pavada, pero me gustó.
Si bien está lleno de gente a toda hora es perfecto para un primer contacto con la parte tradicional de Japón.
Pero no es solo por el templo por lo que vinimos acá, sino también por su feria/​mercado, lleno de artesanías, souvenirs y comidas típicas que fuimos probando a lo largo de Nakamise street.

A really busy place, but beautiful, with a great atmosphere, and so many interesting things to look at, eat and do! Even though it is packed, it still feels serene and calm, friendly and welcoming.
I love seeing the men and women dressed in the Yukata outfits, walking around amongst the crowds, really bringing the Japanese-​ness alive.
When I was there, there was a wedding and the bride and groom were sat in the front rickshaw, with their respective parents, following behind, all dressed in the fabulous and more elaborate kimonos which are worn on these special occasions.

Yes, it’s a Buddhist temple, but that’s not why you come here.
Or, at least, it’s not the only reason.
It is beautiful and it is something to be seen for sure, making it a major tourist destination. And because of that, there are so many interesting stands and shops and stalls and food around it, that it’s amazing just to walk around. It’s constantly packed with people, so if you are not a fan of crowds, then avoid, but otherwise, add it to your list.
Temple, beautiful. Shopping, fun. Whole area, interesting. What more could you want?

Surprised this doesn’t have more reviews as it’s one of the biggest most famous temples in all of Tokyo. Not sure what’s going on, but I’ll add a piece to this pie.
This is one of the larger temples, but also one of the bigger tourist spots so as always be prepared to surf your way through lots of people. The temple itself is a sight to behold and is quite inspiring if you don’t have to deal with countless people trying to take selfies. I’ve written so many reviews today that I’m getting review fatigue, but trust me when I say you really owe yourself a visit here. You won’t regret it.

I think first time visitors to Japan, like us, need to go to Sensoji. It is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo — and Asakusa is where you go to see the interesting architecture of old Japan. But probably more worth it if you came with a tour group or are just a huge temple aficionado.
It’s FULL OF PEOPLE. And I don’t mean that lightly. And we’re not amateurs, it wasn’t a holiday or anything that would warrant people. The sheer crowd was purely tourists. It was insane. The people, the smoke (from incense), the heat (not a lot of shade) make it insufferable. I couldn’t wait to get on Nakamise-​dori, which is also crowded but slightly better. And I like temples as much as the next person (I’ve seen a shit ton in China), but there really isn’t that much value add, unless you’re touting a DSLR and want a token Japan picture.

Incredibly busy and crowded, but this temple is beautiful. With its red painted walls and towering structure, it’s great for photographs.
You start off at the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), passing by a big lantern and statues of gods. The Nakamise-​dori is a long street leading up to the temple itself. This street is packed with people, with stalls selling food and souvenirs. Before heading into the temple, there’s an area where you can get a written fortune. Very easily understood because there’s English instructions.
Definitely a must if it’s your first time to Tokyo, but I believe there are other temples just as nice for visiting.

There is a sh*t load of people and it’s packed like sardines. It’s pretty hard to get a clear shot for your selfies or any pictures at all. Where is a restroom mirror when you need a selfie?!? Besides those faults, it’s pretty magnificent and a great sight to see. It was a pretty breathtaking sight to see how massive the temple is and the flock of people.
The whole thing is organized chaos yet peaceful at the same time.

Incredible!
I’ll write this review as the experience I had in the entire area.
We took the metro to the Asakusa station and from there it was a short walk over. This is Tokyo’s oldest temple and definitely one of the more active attractions we saw — as far as tourists. For whatever reason I was naïve to think that most of Tokyo would be like this — ancient buildings, with a ton of history. Of course Tokyo is extremely developed and modernized — so it’s pretty incredible that next to the giant skyscrapers and massive LED screens you can have this ancient area. Deffinatly one of the highlights of my trip!
The temple is extremely impressive to stare at as you walk up to it. Of course you will likely get a few photos in. They have this really cool feature: for 100 yen you get your fortune. First, you shake up a large metal container and a stick pops out. Then you find the corresponding drawer with the symbol on the stick and boom: get your fortune. There are 100 possible «fortunes» and they vary from good to best. The temple itself is really nice — there’s large windows and you can see people in service.
Once again — the front of the temple is a gorgeous photo op. There’s an area with incense smoke — get in there for some good luck. Plus a beautiful 5 story Pagoda.
There’s various little nooks and crannies to see smaller structures around the main temple. Make sure you explore the entire area. There’s a huge market/​streets lined with stores — with everything from food to kimonos. Pretty cool to window shop — or if you are a tourist, to grab some gifts for back home.
With the exception of a donation for the fortune (done on the honor system) this is all free to roam, photograph and enjoy.

Le Senso-​ji est le temple le plus populaire de Tōkyō. Il attire énormément de monde, pas seulement des touristes étrangers d’ailleurs.
Cependant, il né faut pas bouder son plaisir lorsqu’on vient visiter cet immense complexe dévoué au culte bouddhiste. Les structures sont tout simplement grandioses, notamment le temple principal.
Bien que le site regorge de boutiques de souvenirs et d’un folklore touristique très envahissant, c’est toujours un grand plaisir d’être ici, car l’atmosphère y est particulière. C’est encore plus vrai la nuit tombée, lorsque tous les commerces sont fermés.
Ce n’est peut-​être pas le site le plus agréable à visiter à cause de sa fréquentation, mais c’est un passage indispensable pour s’imprégner de l’histoire et de la culture japonaise.

Ce temple est tellement connu que tous les touristes ont sans doute envie de le visiter.
Pour moi, il n’y a pas de choses spécialement intéressantes, quand j’ai été avec une amie chinoise, rien m’a touchée. C’est peut-​être parce que j’étais trop habituée aux images de ce temple qu’on puisse voir à la télé ou dans une revue.
Mais, mon amie, elle était bien excitée de voir des pousse-​pousse ou des petit trucs à grignoter comme manju (brioche farcie à la pâte de haricot sucrée), senbei (biscuit salé de riz soufflé), amazake (boisson alcoolisée sucrée à base de riz fermenté)etc…, ce qui sont typiquement japonais.
En tout cas, si vous amenez des amis étrangers, ce beau temple doit leur plaire beaucoup.