Asakusa Kannon Senso-ji Buddhist Temple
Introduction
The Sensō-ji temple 浅草寺, also known as Asakusa Kannon 浅草観音, is an ancient Buddhist temple in Tokyo's Asakusa area. It is the city's oldest and one of its most popular temples. It is a vital center of Buddhism that attracts about 30 million visitors yearly.
Story of Tokyo's Oldest Temple
In the year 628, two brothers, Takenari and Hamanari Hinokuma, were fishing on the Sumida River. One day, they heard a command from heaven to cast their nets and found a golden statue in them. When they returned to their village, which is nowadays Asakusa, they showed the statue to the village headman Nakatomo Haji, and he realized they found a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Sho Kanzeon Bosatsu), also known as Kannon. The village headman was so impressed by the statue that he became a devoted believer in Bodhisattva Kannon and practiced Buddhism for the rest of his life. He took vows as a Buddhist priest and turned his house into a temple to worship Kannon. This event marks the birth of Tokyo's oldest temple and the start of Sensō-ji's history.
In the year 645, the notable Buddhist priest Shokai 勝海 came to Asakusa 浅草 and built a hall for the worship of Bodhisattva Kannon, making him the official founder of the Sensō-ji temple.
Location of the Temple
The temple is located on the northeast side of Tokyo, next to the Sumida River 隅田川 in the Asakusa District within the Taito Ward 台東区. See the exact location in the Google Maps below.Admission Fee & Opening Hours
The temple grounds are free to visit and accessible 24 hours a day. The main hall has specific opening hours: 6 AM to 5 PM from April to September and 6:30 AM to 5 PM from October to March.How to Get There
The fastest and most convenient way to visit the Sensō-ji temple is by subway. Asakusa Station is located close to the temple and is the end station of the Tokyo Ginza Subway Line 銀座線. The line is recognizable by its orange color and is Asia's oldest subway line. It officially opened on December 30, 1927. The Ginza Line starts in Shibuya, and you can transfer to this line from the Yamanote Line at Shimbashi or Ueno Station.
Address & Phone Number
Address: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032Phone Number: 03-3842-0181
Official Website
Visit the official website of the temple over here:
Official Website