Passing to Japan, the "country of the Sun-Levant"? So don't miss discovering the splendid Senso-ji temple in Tokyo, jewel of the Japanese cultural heritage!
Ah, Japan... This archipelago, shared between respect for ancestral traditions and galoping modernity has more than one asset to seduce the visitor. If you pass through the capital, why not visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo, one of the most important points of interest in the country?
To convince you to go for a tour, and to help you organize your visit, we have prepared a complete program combining all the essential information: historic site, attractions not to be missed, access plan but also schedules and rates are presented below!
So, ready to visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo?
Also: The 8 things to do in Tokyo for a first stay
History of the Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo
In this land of tradition and mysteries, it was necessary that the history of this site be born of a legend: this one relates only in the seventh century, during the reign of the Empress Suiko , two brothers who had joined the peaceful joys of fishing in the Sumida River - close to the site - found a statue of the goddess Kannon, goddess of Compassion, in their nets. When the lord of the village came to find them, the two brothers were so impressed by his joyful reaction that they turned to Buddhism immediately!
It was in the Senso-ji temple that the statue was placed, and the statue, which was then very modest, was offered a complete restoration completed in the year 645: at that time, the Asakusa district experienced a prosperous period which rebounds on the fame of the temple, from then visited by many Japanese. In the 17th century, to celebrate the three men at the origin of the temple and to raise them to the rank of divinities, a sanctuary was erected and a feast in their honour, Sanja matsuri, took place on the third weekend of May. If we have the chance to find ourselves in the vicinity at this moment, we must not hesitate to visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo!
Today Senso-ji is one of the most visited places in Japan and the oldest Buddhist temple in the city, but the current monument is actually a copy; a reconstruction of 1958, the original having been destroyed during the bombings of the Second World War.
What to see and do at the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo?
The temple is a very imposing monument, which has become the center of an important religious complex composed of entire streets of the Asakusa district, almost 30 million people each year come to visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo! It is penetrated into this sanctuary by a majestic door named Kaminari-mon (the thunder gate), to which is suspended the largest lantern of paper in the country. Before you can access the temple itself, it is necessary to cross a long shopping arcade of 250 meters, noisy and animated, Nakamise-dori , where tiny clusters market traditional souvenirs or dishes typical of Japanese street food!
It is only at the end of this aisle that you reach a second monumental door, opening onto the main building of the Senso-ji: the famous goddess’ room, where the custom wants you to bow down in front of the altar and knock your hands one against the other twice before leaving a coin as an offering in the trunk intended for this purpose; That said, when you visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo, you must know that the true statue of the goddess is not visible by the public, only the members of the local religious authority have this privilege.
Once the main room is discovered, it is also pleasant to discover the other treasures of the temple: the five-storey pagoda, for example, located just to its left and recognized as the second highest in the country! In addition, the festivities of Sanja Matsuri are celebrated in a small temple on the right, Asakusa-jinja, and you can also go to the aisles of the Japanese garden of the Senso-ji temple of Tokyo, behind the pagoda, a pure wonder, true bubble of nature in this demeasured city, where you can admire the swimming carps in the pond at the slow pace of Buddhist processions. The Senso-ji temple in Tokyo, filled with mystery, invites both spiritual dreaming and cultural awakening!
Apart from the celebration mentioned, one can also celebrate, on March 18, the Kinryu no Mai, spectacular "golden dragon dance" attracting crowds of visitors; and, on April 8, the splendid Hana Matsuri flower festival celebrating the birth of Buddha.
Book your visit to Tokyo temples, sanctuaries and palaces
How to visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo?
To go to the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo, you can take the metro following the Asakusa or Ginza lines to the Asakusa station, noted G19 or A18: the site is only a few minutes’ walk away. In this neighborhood there are many jinrikishas, pushchairs that are, although picturesque, out of price: sometimes 9,000 yen, or more than 75 € per half hour!
If we come in train , the Asakusa station on the Isesaki line is also only a few minutes’ walk from the sacred temple; and for tourists who came to visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo car , car parks are located around and allow you to park your car park rental vehicle without difficulties but prices, especially during the summer holidays, are brought to be high! So be predictable and anticipate!
Timetables & Rates of Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo
Photo credit: Flickr – hans-johnsonn
Visit Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo is free for all and the latter is open every day of the year , without exception none, 6 to 5 p.m. Between October and March, the opening was postponed at 6:30.
Moreover, if you like this kind of visit, it is possible to opt for a guided tour to explore temples, sanctuaries and palaces Tokyo's most famous!
Book your visit to Tokyo temples, sanctuaries and palaces
Good to know.
To visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo without taking your head, we give you some ultimate practical information and advice: - The crowd can be dense, especially in the afternoon; the temple opening early enough, cancel your fat morning for come to the dawn and avoid cohue in this often crowded tourist place! If you come to visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo, you will need between 1h and 2h to make the most of this place. - This place is sacred to the Japanese, so it is necessary to respect basic knowledge and living disappointment ; in this regard, it is good tone if one wears to remove his sunglasses and his headcover when entering this particular place. - If you own one dog, know that it will not be possible to take your pet to the Buddhist buildings, of course, but that the latter, on a leash, are tolerated in the enclosure. Locals often come to walk them in the morning! - Everyone can visit the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo: the site is accessible to persons with reduced mobility.
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