Sensō-ji is Tokyo's oldest and most visited temple, a Buddhist complex in the heart of Asakusa that has been drawing pilgrims and curious visitors since its founding in 645 CE. According to legend, two fishermen pulled a golden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, from the Sumida River, and the temple was built to enshrine it. The site survived earthquakes, fires, and wartime bombing — the current main hall was rebuilt in 1958 — yet it carries a weight of history that newer buildings in this city rarely manage. Standing before the Kaminarimon, the great gate with its iconic red paper lantern, it's hard not to feel the accumulated ritual of thirteen centuries pressing down through the smoke and incense.
Religious Place