Sensoji (浅草寺) is Tokyo’s largest Buddhist temple and a major sightseeing spot for Japanese and foreigners. If you just follow the crowds from Sensouji Exit of Asakusa station, you will reach the Thunder gate (雷門) of Sensoji in 90% of the time (because it’s so popular).
According to legend, a statue of the Kannon (the goddess of mercy) was found in the Sumida River nearby in 628 by two fishermen brothers, and even though they try to put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, the chief and people of their village decided to build a temple and enshrined it. The first temple was completed in 645,which makes it the oldest temple in Tokyo.
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Sensoji is a just few steps from Asakusa Station, served by the Tokyo metro Ginza Subway Line, TOEI Asakusa Subway Line and Tobu Railways.
DATA
- Address： 2-3-1 Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan
- Access： Take the JR Yamanote Line or Keihin tohoku line to Ueno Station or Kanda station and transfer to the Tokyo metro Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa.
- Parking： Coin parking
- Hours： Daily 6am-5pm (4:30pm in winter)/Temple grounds: Always open
- Closed： —
- Admission： Free
- Contact： 03-3842-0181
- HP： Sensoji temple
2-3-1 Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan
111-0032 東京都台東区浅草２丁目３−１