Asakusa Temple - Our Old Tokyo Experience in the heart of the City

Asakusa Temple also known as Sensoji is the oldest and famous temple in Tokyo. Asakusa makes a traditional feel in the vibrant district of Tokyo. Thus, it hosts many traditional events significant to the culture of the Japanese people. 

Many believed that Asakusa originated from the story of two brothers who had found the statue of Kannon, goddess of mercy in the Sumida River. Thereafter, Sensoji  Temple was built in honor for the goddess of Kannon.

The first and front gate of the Sensoji Temple is the Kaminarimon Gate from which you can see the "god of thunder" on the left and "god of wind" on the right.

  The Kaminarimon Signage at the Side of the Main Entrance

    The Large Red Paper Lantern 

       

The sculptures underneath the lantern

Asakusa is one of the most visited spot in Tokyo. Thus, there are a lot of souvenir shops lined-up along the Nakamise Shopping Street, Here you can see a lot of items from foodies, fans, wooden Japanese dolls, masks, lanterns etc.

                           

Japanese Noh Masks

Japanese Lanters

Assortment of Pastries with very nice packaging

cute ref magnets

Next to Nakamise Shopping Street is the Hozomon Gate also known as "the gate for storing treasures" 

is the second gate in the Asakusa Shrine. Visible to the gate are two Nios or muscular buddhas at both sides guiding the treasure house gates.   

There is even a huge large Japanese straw slippers hung in the side of Hozomon Gate

At the side of the Hozomon gate, you'll find the Asakuisa's famous Five Story Pagoda

                                  

Photo credits given to my sister's nice capture of the Five Story Pagoda

and a Japanese man sketching the pagoda 

Lucky me I spotted two Geishas and have a souvenir photo.

There are even fortune boxes placed in an area near the Hozomon Gate. Out of curiosity we tried this to know our fortunes. 

There are these Hexagonal Container filled with stick that have corresponding number on them. You'll drop your 100 coin and shake the stick bin from which a stick will fall from the hole of the container. 

My sister got the best fortune while yours truly is a bad fortune :( So, to negate the bad fortune, I need to tied-up my paper.

After the Hozomon Gate you'll now see the Asakusa or Sensoji temple. Due to the high volume of visitors that day, we were not able get a good shot of the temple

view from the temple

Indeed, Asakusa introduced us to the most historical and cultural side of Tokyo. The architecture and even the way of life or the traditions hosted here are the distinct character of old Tokyo during the Edo and Meiji era.