Sensoji Temple, Also Known as Asakusa Temple or the Temple of the Red Lantern

Sensoji Temple, also known by several names, including Asakusa Temple or the Temple of the Red Lantern (Asakusa Kannon Temple), is a large temple in the Asakusa area. It is one of the oldest and most popular temples in Tokyo. Nakamise Street, a long street leading into the temple grounds, is lined with countless shops. Almost every visitor to Tokyo knows this temple, and few leave it off their itinerary. Most photos here are taken with the large red lantern in the background, which has become an important symbol of the temple. Its popularity is clear from the steady stream of visitors who come to pay their respects and explore the surrounding area.

This temple, known as the oldest in Tokyo, was completed around 645 AD. According to legend, around 628, two brothers went out fishing and found a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River. No matter how many times they tried to throw the statue back into the river, it kept returning to them. So the temple was built to enshrine the statue, and it remains one of the most popular temples in Tokyo.

Japanese and foreign tourists in front of the main hall of Sensoji Temple