Family Travelogue: Senso-ji Temple 17 March 2016/ Asakusa, JAPAN

Senso-ji, Tokyo, Japan

Senso-ji is the oldest ancient and most significant Buddhist temple in Japan located in Asakusa, Tokyo. Not only we feasted our eyes with the beautiful architecture and intricate details of the buildings, we observed the religious rituals outside the temples.

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

Streets in Asakusa lined with shops and restaurant leading to the gates to Senso-ji,

At the Denbouin Street, next to Sensoji, there are these five Kabuki characters statues/puppets posing along the facade of shops. We managed to see only three.

Kabuki is a Japanese dance drama known for its stylized and the elaborate make-up worn by the performers.

To absorb the Edo style in Asakusa, a few are renting Kimono and enjoy the cosplay as walking down Nakamise-dori to Sensoji, riding the rickshaw and stroll around Asakusa.

Kaminarimon

Kaminarimon is the first of the two entrance gates to Sensoji.

The two statues in between the big lantern represent the obscure deities: Fuji-sama (god of wind) and Raijin-sama (god of thunder and lightning). The one on the left has given his name to the gate. Rai also means Kaminari. The characters written on the big lantern is Kaminarimon or thundergate. Written on the big green plate above the lantern is Kinryuzan or Golden Dragon Mountain. The official name of Sensoji is Kinryuzan.

Nakamise dori

Nakamise Dori (inside street) is a line of shops selling almost everything leads to the second entrance gate, Hozomon.

Nakamise dori

Five storied Pagoda and the Hozomon Gate at Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

The Goju no To or the five-storied Pagoda is always closed to visitors. Inside are the memorial tablets of thousands of families and individuals. You could go inside if you could prove that you have a family and are allowed to go in during a specific time of the year.

Hozomon Gate (view from the outside)

Hozomon gate is a two story structure. Lower story on the southern part houses two statues, three lanterns and two large heavy sandals that are shown behind.

The two Nio statues-protectors were inspired by the 1960's sumo wrestlers Kitanoumi (on the left) and Myobudani Kiyoshi (on the right)

White lanterns on the left side of the Hozomon gate with the name of the business firms who donated to maintain the upkeep of the temple.

details of the lantern and statue at Hozomon Gate

The presence of the statues are to protect the temple. No wonder they are fearsome,

details of the lantern and statue at Hozomon Gate

Hozomon gate and the view of Tokyo Skytree.

Hozomon gate (North face)

View of the Hozomon gate from inside the sensoji complex with the two large Waraji Straw Sandals.

Waraji Straw Sandals, Hozomon Gate, Senso-ji

800 citizens of Maruyama get together every few years and create a pair of enormous waraji straw sandals weighing 2.5 tons each.

Cherry Blossoms in a box around the temple, perfect photo spot for girls wearing the traditional Japanese dress, Kimono.

Omikuji (Fortune Telling)

Omikuji (fortune telling)

Shake a large tube and from the tiny hole, a stalk would come out. Check out the numbers shown to the corresponding drawer. Take out a sheet of paper from the drawer and on it your fortune. It could be bad or good fortune. As per rumour, 30% in those drawers are bad fortune.

Just drawn my written fortune. Are you curious what was it? check out the next photo.

As written, When you draw good fortune, you should not be careless and arrogant. Even if bad fortune, have no fear. Try to be modest and gentle.

If you happened to draw a bad fortune, tie the sheet on the iron rod to seal your fate and it could externalized and banished.

Temikuza or the Purification Fountain at Senso-ji temple, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

Omizuya (choziya)/ Temizuya (water basin in english)

Purification of hands and mouth at the Temizuya by washing hands and drink the water from the temizuya.

At every temple, there's always a fountain located on the right side. It is in custom to use the provided small ladle to take water and pour it over our hand to wash and/or drink before going inside the temple.

Incense Burning Ritual

Bathing smoke to ward-off illnesses at the Huge Bronze Incense Burner before going inside the temple.

The Temizuya and the Burning incense are always located at the main pathway up to the temple.
Two of the pilgrim etiquette before entering the temple hall to pray:
1. Clean your hands and mouth and
2. Light an incense and candle, waft off the smoke over your body for purification and over your head as a sign of humility.

Senso-ji Main Hall

In front of the Hozomon gate is the main hall devoted to Kanon, the goddess of mercy.

Outside the Main Hall

Inside the Main Hall at Senso ji, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

Kannon-do

As per legend, two brothers caught in their nets the golden statue of the buddhist deity, Kannon, while fishing in the Sumida River. Senso ji was then built and devoted to Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

Inside Senso-ji Main Hall

Lightning of candles inside the Senso-ji Main Hall.

Inside Senso-ji Main Hall

Tennyo or the heavenly maiden is one of the pictures painted on the ceiling inside the Main Hall of Senso-ji.

Big Red Lantern inside the Senso-ji Main Hall

The next place we visited on this day was the Tokyo Skytree. This was also the last day of this trip. Going to Skytree from Senso-ji could be on foot or by train. We had a bad experience going to Skytree. We missed our stop. We were still able to visit the tallest tower in Japan though. I had shared our unfortunate experience during our last day. You may want to check it out. Last Day in Tokyo, Missed Train Stops. We learned from those experiences though. But a few times missing our stop... we must be so exhausted!

There are many temples in Japan. Unlike 2017 trip to Japan, we managed to visit only two temples this 2016 visit. Check out link to 2017 trip to Japan showing the Temples and other places we had visited.

Ref: tokyocheapo.com
https://matcha-jp.com/en/1025

Continued from Ueno Park
Continued to Sky Tree

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