On this episode I visit Sensoji Temple Tokyo or Senso-ji Asakusa which is the oldest temple and it should be on your places to visit and things to do lists during your travel in Tokyo Japan.
00:32 What is Sensoji Temple?
Sensoji Asakusa also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa District.
Tokyo’s oldest temple, and one of its most significant.
Formerly associated with the Tendai sect of Buddhism, it became independent after World War II.
It is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, and is the most widely visited religious site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually.
01:33 Where is Sensoji Temple?
Asakusa Sensoji Temple is located in Asakusa District which is on the north-east fringe of central Tokyo, at the eastern end of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line subway, approximately one mile east of the major Ueno railway/subway interchange.
02:17 How to get to Sensoji Temple?
Asakusa Station is on Tokyo Metro’s Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line and Tobu Skytree Line.
The boarding pier for the waterbus is just a three-minute walk from Asakusa Station.
From Haneda Airport it is 50 minutes by train.
From Narita Airport it is one hour 25 minutes by train.
From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station and transfer to the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line for Asakusa Station.
Travel time is around 35 minutes.
03:18 Sensoji Temple History?
The temple is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon.
According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 AD by two fishermen, brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari.
The chief of their village, Hajino Nakamoto, recognized the sanctity of the statue and enshrined it by remodeling his own house into a small temple in Asakusa so that the villagers could worship Kannon.
The first temple was founded in 645 AD, which makes it the oldest temple in Tokyo.
05:12 What is there in Asakusa?
Kaminarimon is the first of two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple.
First built more than 1000 years ago, it is the symbol of Asakusa.
The Nakamise shopping street leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds.
Asakusa Shrine, also known as Sanja-sama, was built during the Edo Period and survived the air raids of 1945.
The shrine’s festival, the Sanja Matsuri, is one of Tokyo’s most spectacular and popular event.
It is held every year on a weekend (Friday to Sunday) in mid May.
06:25 What to do there in Asakusa?
Around the historical site, there are many picturesque building to visit and take photos.
Nakamise Shopping Street is a small street connecting the front gate and the main hall of Sensoji temple.
This small street is full of local shops and food stalls and it’s a great place to taste local flavour.
Kappabashi street is located between Asakusa and Ueno.
It’s an arcade dealing only with kitchen tools and fascinates chefs internationally.
07:51 Opening Hours & Entrance Fees of Senso-ji Temple?
Sensoji Temple is usually open 6AM to 5PM, but from october to march opening time is 6:30AM.
There is not any entrance fee to visit.
08:09 What else to do around Sensoji Temple?
Tokyo Skytree is a new must-visit place in Tokyo today.
It is the new symbol of Tokyo and just 10 minutes driving distance away from Asakusa.
And the tallest building of the country and the second in the world has been fascinating millions of tourists.
As well as being Japan’s oldest zoo, the Ueno Zoological Gardens (or simply Ueno Zoo) has achieved legendary status in Japan for its giant pandas and success at breeding them.
It is 10 minutes away from Asakusa by car.
09:45 What to buy around Sensoji Temple?
The Nakamise shopping street stretches over approximately 250 meters from Kaminarimon to the main grounds of Sensoji Temple.
It is lined by more than 50 shops, which offer local specialties and the usual array of tourist souvenirs.
Shin-Nakamise or “New Nakamise” runs perpendicular to the Nakamise Shopping Street.
10:23 What to eat around Sensoji Temple?
There are many restaurants in Asakusa where you can experience a variety of Japanese food.
Apart from the most widely known sushi and sashimi dishes in the global world, we recommend you to try dishes such as yakitori, sukiyaki soup, ramen, Japanese barbecue, katsu, tonkatsu and curry rice, which are popular throughout the country.
11:05 Best Time to Visit Sensoji Temple?
As you can imagine, Sensoji Temple is so popular that it gets super crowded quite easily, especially on weekends.
But also on weekdays the place can be full of people.
In order to avoid the crowds, we recommend that you go there early in the morning, preferably around 9am.
11:46 Worth Visiting Sensoji Temple?
If you’re planning on coming to Tokyo, it is most likely that one of the places on your “must go” list, is Asakusa.
You can be sure that it is one of the most worth visiting location in Tokyo.
Alp Galip
http://www.youtube.com/alpgalipcy
#sensojitemple #sensoji #tokyo #japan
1 Comment
Awesome work !😉✌