Sensō-ji

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Sensō-ji (金龍山浅草寺, Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji^?) is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. Formerly associated with the Tendai sect, it became independent after World War II. Adjacent to the temple is a Shinto shrine, the Asakusa Jinja.

Sensō-ji is the focus of Tokyo's largest and most popular matsuri (Shinto festival). This takes place over 3–4 days in late spring, and sees the surrounding streets closed to traffic from dawn until late evening.

Worshippers burn incense at Sensō-ji

Dominating the entrance to the temple is the kaminari-mon or "Thunder Gate". This imposing Buddhist structure features a massive paper lantern dramatically painted in vivid red-and-black tones to suggest thunderclouds and lightning. Within the precincts stand a stately five-story pagoda and the main hall, devoted to Kannon Bosatsu.

Pilgrims and tourists flocking to Sensō-ji have shopped at the small stores here for centuries.

Many tourists, both Japanese and from abroad, visit Sensō-ji every year. Catering to the visiting crowds, the surrounding area has many traditional shops and eating places that feature traditional dishes (hand-made noodles, sushi, tempura, etc.). Nakamise-dori, the street leading from the Thunder Gate to the temple itself, is lined with small shops selling souvenirs ranging from fans, ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), kimono and other robes, Buddhist scrolls, traditional sweets, to Godzilla toys, t-shirts, and cell-phone trinkets. These shops themselves are part of a living tradition of selling to pilgrims who walked to Sensō-ji.

Within the temple is a quiet contemplative garden kept in the distinctive Japanese style.

[edit] History

Wood carving on a gigantic lamp.

The temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 by two fishermen, the brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari. The chief of their village, Hajino Nakamoto, recognized the sanctity of the statue and inshrined the statue by remaking his own house into a small temple in Asakusa so that the villagers could worship the Kannon.

The blessings of the Kannon gradually received a high reputation throughout Japan, and people near and far flocked to Asakusa to venerate the statue.