Beneath that giant red lantern is where our story begins. We are standing before the Kaminarimon. This is the Thunder Gate. It marks the entrance to Sensō-ji. This is Tokyo’s oldest temple. It is one of its most significant.
Have you noticed the dramatic red and black colors? They represent thunderclouds and lightning. The Kaminarimon is more than just a gate. It is a symbol of Asakusa and Tokyo itself.
The Kaminarimon boasts a history stretching back to 941 AD. Taira no Kinmasa, a military commander, first built it. The gate wasn’t always here. It was originally near Komagata. It was moved to this location in 1635. It is believed the gods of wind and thunder were first placed here at that time.
The Kaminarimon has faced destruction many times. Fire claimed it repeatedly. Tokugawa Iemitsu rebuilt it in 1649. That was after a fire. The current gate dates back to 1960. Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic, donated money for the rebuild.
Take a closer look at the statues. Fūjin, the god of wind, stands on the east. Raijin, the god of thunder, is on the west. These sculptures faced severe damage in an 1865 fire. Only their heads survived. They were restored for the 1960 reconstruction.
On the gate’s reverse, you’ll find Tenryū and Kinryū. These Buddhist deities were added in 1978. They commemorate Kannon’s first appearance in Asakusa. This event led to Sensō-ji’s founding.
The giant red lantern is hard to miss. It is a chōchin. It hangs under the gate’s center. It weighs approximately 700 kilograms. It displays the gate’s name, Kaminarimon. The back shows its official name, Fūraijinmon. During festivals, the lantern collapses. This allows taller objects to pass.
The tablet above the lantern displays Kinryū-zan. These characters reference Sensō-ji.
Beyond the Kaminarimon lies Nakamise-dori. This street leads to the temple. It is filled with shops selling traditional goods. This street has existed for centuries. It catered to pilgrims visiting Sensō-ji. You can find fans, woodblock prints and sweets here. You can also find Godzilla toys.
Let’s continue to the Hōzōmon. It is the Treasure-House Gate. This is the inner gate to Sensō-ji. The Hōzōmon stands 22.7 metres tall.
Taira no Kinmasa also built the Hōzōmon. That was in 942 AD. Tokugawa Iemitsu rebuilt it in 1636 after a fire. The current structure dates to 1964. Yonetarō Motoya donated money for this steel-reinforced gate.
The Hōzōmon houses Sensō-ji’s treasured sutras. These include a copy of the Lotus Sutra. It is a Japanese National Treasure.
Two guardian statues flank the gate’s south face. They represent Niō. They are the guardian deities of the Buddha. Before it was renamed Hōzōmon, this gate was originally called the Niōmon.
The Hōzōmon also features three large lanterns. The central red chōchin displays the town name Kobunachō. On the east face, you can see two large straw sandals. These are the waraji.
We continue towards the main hall. It is dedicated to Kannon. According to legend, two brothers found a Kannon statue in the Sumida River in 628 AD. The village chief enshrined it. He turned his house into a small temple.
The main hall was rebuilt in 1951-58 after World War II. It stands as a symbol of rebirth and peace.
Take a moment to appreciate the five-story pagoda. It stretches towards the sky.
Sensō-ji is more than just a temple. It’s a living piece of Tokyo’s history. It is a testament to resilience and faith. It continues to draw millions of visitors each year.