About Senso-ji Temple
Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 628 CE in the Asakusa district. Visitors enter through the massive Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its giant red lantern, then walk down Nakamise shopping street lined with traditional stalls before reaching the main hall. This temple remains Tokyo's most visited spiritual site, blending devotion and tourism in the atmospheric Asakusa neighborhood. Pair this stop with the Tokyo guide and the wider Japan overview.
⏰ Hours & Best Times
- Temple grounds: Daily 6 AM - 5 PM
- Main hall: Opens 6 AM (6:30 AM October-March)
- Best: Dawn (6-7 AM) for peaceful atmosphere before crowds
- Avoid: Midday (11 AM - 2 PM) - extremely crowded
💰 Costs
- Temple entry: Free
- Omikuji fortune: ¥100
- Incense offering: ¥100
- Shopping on Nakamise: ¥500-2,000 for souvenirs
✨ Highlights
- 🏮 Kaminarimon Gate: Iconic Thunder Gate with 700kg lantern
- 🛍️ Nakamise-dori: 250m shopping street with 90 traditional stalls
- ⛩️ Main Hall: Beautiful architecture with daily prayer ceremonies
- 🔮 Omikuji fortunes: Draw paper fortunes (tie bad ones to rack)
- 💨 Incense ritual: Wave sacred smoke over yourself for purification
- 🗼 Five-story Pagoda: Elegant pagoda illuminated at night
📝 Tips
- Early morning magic: Temple at dawn is peaceful and photogenic
- Cleansing ritual: Wash hands and rinse mouth at temizuya before entering
- Try traditional snacks: Ningyo-yaki cakes, senbei crackers on Nakamise
- Evening visit: Temple lights up beautifully after dark
- Nearby: Walk to Tokyo Skytree (15 minutes) after visiting