Map
Tokyo's oldest temple and its most visited tourist attraction, drawing over 30 million visitors annually. The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), Nakamise shopping street, and Five-Storied Pagoda are iconic symbols of Tokyo recognized around the world.
Temple Info
- Sect
- Grand head temple of the Sho Kannon school (an independent school affiliated with Tendai)
- Principal Image
- Sho Kannon Bosatsu (a golden image about 5.5 cm tall, enshrined inside a shrine as an absolute hidden image, never put on public view)
- Founded
- Began in Suiko 36 (628) when a pair of fisherman brothers pulled a Kannon statue from the Sumida River, and their master Haji no Nakatomo took Buddhist vows and enshrined it in a hall (tradition)
History & Origins
According to legend, the temple was founded in 628 CE after two fishermen brothers netted a small statue of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) from the Sumida River. During the Edo period, the area around 'Edo's Asakusa' was the vibrant heart of the common people's culture.
Highlights
The Kaminarimon Gate (with its 3.9-meter-tall red lantern), the Nakamise-dori (a 250-meter arcade of traditional souvenir shops), the main hall, and the Five-Storied Pagoda. The fortune-telling slips (omikuji) here are famously likely to draw 'bad luck.'
Visitor Guide
Open year-round, 24 hours a day. The Nakamise shops operate from morning to evening. When combined with exploring the broader Asakusa neighborhood, this makes for a full day of sightseeing. Hugely popular with international visitors.
Best Season
Enjoyable year-round. The Sanja Festival in May and the Hozuki-ichi (ground cherry pod fair) in July are particularly lively occasions.
Attributes
Blessings
Annual Events
- February
Hari Kuyo (Needle Memorial Service)
A memorial service in which broken needles are stuck into tofu, with prayers for improved sewing skills.
- May
Sanja Matsuri (Three Shrines Festival)
The annual grand festival of Asakusa Shrine, held in mid-May. With its spirited portable shrine processions, it is one of Tokyo's representative festivals.
- July
Shimanrokusennichi (Hozuki Ichi, Ground Cherry Fair)
July 9–10. A fair day on which a visit is said to bring the merit of 46,000 days of worship. A ground cherry fair is also held in the grounds.
- December
Hagoita Ichi (Battledore Fair)
A year-end fair held December 17–19. Auspicious battledores are sold, and it is a seasonal sight.
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