Asakusa Temple

Posted on April 30, 2007 by Adam R.

I decide I have to go see Asakusa Temple aka Sensoji and set out from the business hotel in Asakusa-bashi. A short ride on the train and I am off the train and trying to decode the map I have. After about a three minute walk I am at the top end of Asakusa Temple precinct, so I enter and begin to wander around blending in to the stream of visitors. After coming to a an area that spreads out containing several buildings I decide to hang a sharp left and am rewarded with a something I have never seen.

A traditional wedding is in progress and even though uninvited I am allowed to watch without and objections. The next building houses some type of ornate Matsuri float, a small window in what looks like a ticket box is actually selling Omomori and white arrows. I find out this is run by the temple's monks to contribute to raising funds for the upkeep of the temple, As I approach the next centrally located building which seems massive compared to what I have seen so far a wave of incense fragrance hit me I see the biggest incense pot I ever have. People are placing incense in it and waving the smoke over their heads it seems as a ritual cleansing, that is my guess. Looking over my right shoulder I see the steps leading to the inside of the main temple building, so I proceed up the steps to find a few hundred pairs of shoes sitting in front of me.

So my shoes are off and I am inside whipping my camera out when that tap on the shoulder happens, no photos are allowed inside the temple so as I my SONY Cybershot gets packed away a huge tour group leaves the buliding. Now not alone but there is allot more room to go up the front and have a good look around. I am given a sheet of paper with English written on it explaining I can take photos outside if I like so I think to my self I better get so from outside. Shoes back on and down the steps I am asking myself, how did you miss that giant mutli level pagoda on the way in, it is sitting just off to the right of the steps on the way out of the main temple. A good photo is worth the wait so countless minutes are spent waiting for no other people to be in my shots. I spot the huge lantern Sensoji is famous for and go to take some pictures, either side are two massive wooden protector deities with their ominous frowns looking down on me.

Sampling the air I know that smell and ducking under the huge red lantern Nakamise-dori sprawls before me, food, souvenirs and more food. I love simple food and every temple abounds with those street vendor tents offering yakisoba, tori no karaage, tokaoyaki, corn and all the other supmtous delights that require patronage. One thousand three hundred yen later I am full and washed my lunch down with an ice cold Asahi beer and a giant can at that. I being browsing the stores on Nakamise-dori, some offer the tourist souvenirs like yukata, replica katanaCurved, single edged longsword traditionally used by Samurai., t-shirts, whilst other offer local specialty foods like Sembei and Mochi. There are some cool shops here one is a specialty blacksmith shop which offers hand made knifes, scissors, tweezers and similar household metal items. Take your time when you visit Nakamise-dori as shops are on the left and right and it is easy to miss something good was the crush pushes you along . The local area has some amazing old stores with long histories located within 200 metres of Nakamise-dori. Iriyama Sembei has mouth watering range of Sembei, Kaneso another knife shop, Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten seels taiko drums, Toishi-ya sells whetstones, Yamamoto Soroban-ten sells old style abacus and Yono-ya sells boxwood combs.

Asakusa Temple is a must see on your visit to Tokyo.