The Asakusa Kannon Temple

By Lorraine Stanley

This is the Asakusa Kannon Temple, better known as the “Sensoji” temple, located in the Asukasa district of Tokyo.  This is near the heart of Tokyo and it’s neat to see this architecture of old where there are modern day skyscrapers in the background.  This is considered to be one of the oldest temples of Tokyo.  Legend has it, that three brothers that were fishermen who found a small statue of the Boddhisatva Kannon, the goddess of mercy, in their nets from the river Sumida. They tried putting the statue back into the waters but somehow the statue always returned back to them.  Visitors’ approach to the temple begins at the “Kaminarimon”, Thunder Gate, and runs 200 meters northward along Nakamise-dori arcade, a crowded lane lined with shops. The “Hozomon” gate, at the end of the street, marks the entrance to the temple. The Sensoji temple stands as a five story tower with multiple eaves.  The main hall is known as the Kannon Hondo. The temple is renowned for its giant red lanterns that hang from the gates and underneath eaves.  I visited this shrine, along with other shrines on my trip to Tokyo in 2012.  There were many tourists but each person entering this sacred place was careful and seemed that talk was hushed.  A feeling of reverence was easily felt in this temple by all.