# Senso-ji, Tokyo > Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple, in Asakusa, dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy. From Kaminarimon gate with its giant red lantern, the Nakamise shopping street leads to the main hall. Entry is free; the grounds never close, and the main hall opens 6:00 (6:30 in winter) to 17:00. It's 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa station. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 51/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h - Opening hours: Grounds 24 hours; main hall 6:00–17:00, from 6:30 October–March - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Main hall: 6:00–17:00; from 6:30 October–March - Grounds: Open 24 hours - Worshippers: ≈ 30 million a year - Nakamise street: Souvenir and sweet stalls from the gate to the hall - From Asakusa station: ≈ 5 minutes on foot (Ginza and Asakusa lines) - Coordinates: 35.71456, 139.79664 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **628** — the year, by tradition, a Kannon statue was found in the Sumida River (source: senso-ji.jp) - **645** — the monk Shokai built a hall and hid the statue from view (source: senso-ji.jp) - **Hidden** — the main statue is shown to no one — not even the chief priests (source: senso-ji.jp) - **≈ 30 million** — worshippers and visitors a year (source: senso-ji.jp) - **Oldest** — temple in Tokyo (source: en.wikipedia) - **Kaminarimon** — 'Thunder Gate' with a giant red lantern (source: en.wikipedia) - **5 storeys** — on the pagoda beside the main hall (source: en.wikipedia) - **13th** — stop on the Bando 33 Kannon pilgrimage (source: en.wikipedia) ## What is Senso-ji? **Senso-ji** is Tokyo's oldest temple, also known as **Asakusa Kannon**. It's dedicated to **Kannon**, the bodhisattva of mercy. According to temple tradition, on **18 March 628** two fishermen brothers netted a small Kannon statue from the Sumida River, and in **645** the monk Shokai built a hall for it and, following a vision in a dream, hid the statue from view. The main statue has been shown to no one since — it's kept in a locked shrine. It's one of the most visited religious sites in the world: the temple says around **30 million** people come each year. Next to it stands the Shinto **Asakusa Shrine**. > **How to pray and draw an omikuji** Rinse your hands at the water pavilion, then waft smoke over yourself from the big incense burner in front of the hall. To pray, put your hands together and bow. For a small donation you can draw an omikuji — a paper fortune; if it's a bad one, tie it to the special rack and leave it at the temple. ## How the temple works The approach begins at **Kaminarimon** ('Thunder Gate') with its giant red lantern. Then comes **Nakamise** street: stalls of souvenirs, fans and sweets such as rice crackers and ningyo-yaki cakes. It leads to **Hozomon** gate, beyond which stand the **main hall** and the **five-storey pagoda**. Entry is **free**. The grounds are always open, and the main hall, according to the official site, opens 6:00 to 17:00, from 6:30 between October and March. Nakamise stalls usually open around 9–10 and close towards evening. ## What to see - **Kaminarimon gate** with its giant red lantern. - **Nakamise street** — souvenirs and sweets. - **Hozomon gate** with its giant straw sandals. - **The main hall** of Kannon. - **The five-storey pagoda**. - **Asakusa Shrine** next door. ## How to get to Senso-ji 1. **Asakusa station** — Ginza and Asakusa metro lines, about 5 minutes on foot to Kaminarimon. 2. **Tobu line** — also to Asakusa station. 3. **From Tokyo Skytree** — about 20 minutes on foot across the Sumida River. 4. **Water bus** — from Odaiba and Hamarikyu Gardens to Asakusa. 5. **From Haneda airport** — direct Keikyu trains to Asakusa, about 40 minutes. ## Early morning or midday | | Early morning | Midday | | --- | --- | --- | | Crowds | Few | Very busy | | Nakamise | Stalls still shut | All stalls open | | Photos | Empty gates and hall | Crowds and atmosphere | | Hall | Opens 6:00 / 6:30 | Open until 17:00 | ## How long do you need? Allow **1 hour** for the temple and Nakamise. In the evening the grounds are lit and nearly empty — a lovely time for a walk, though the hall is closed. Nearby are **Tokyo Skytree**, 20 minutes on foot across the river, and the water-bus pier. In May the big Sanja Matsuri festival takes place here. ## Is Senso-ji worth visiting? Yes: it's Tokyo's great historic temple, and old-Tokyo atmosphere is strongest here. Entry is free. The YesGo take: it's very crowded by day, especially on Nakamise. Come early in the morning or in the evening when the grounds are lit, and buy souvenirs during the day on your way back. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] An early start — before the crowds - [ ] Coins for a donation and omikuji - [ ] Modest clothing for the hall - [ ] Skytree next on the route - [ ] The evening lights on the way back ## Tokyo temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Tokyo rated by YesGo. - [Senso-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free - [Meiji Jingu](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/meiji-jingu) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free; Gyoen garden paid - [Zojo-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/zojo-ji) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · free; gallery ¥700 - [Nezu Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/nezu-shrine) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free; azalea garden paid in spring - [Yanaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/yanaka) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Gotoku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/gotoku-ji) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Mount Takao](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-takao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · free; cable car ≈ ¥490 ## Asakusa and Skytree in a day Senso-ji and Nakamise in the morning, Tokyo Skytree in the afternoon, and Ueno Park in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Senso-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free 2. [Tokyo Skytree](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-skytree) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · from ¥1,800 (350 m), from ¥3,000 (both) 3. [Ueno Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/ueno-park) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · park free; zoo ¥600 ## Good to know Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine are neighbours but different: the first is Buddhist, the second Shinto. Asakusa is the district around the temple. ## Tips - Early morning means empty gates for photos. - The grounds are lit in the evening. - Tie a bad omikuji to the rack. - Souvenirs: Nakamise street. - Nearby: [Tokyo Skytree](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-skytree), 20 minutes on foot. ## Questions ### How much does Senso-ji cost? Entry is free. ### What time does the main hall open? At 6:00, or 6:30 from October to March; it closes at 17:00. ### Can you visit in the evening? Yes, the grounds are always open, but the hall closes at 17:00. ### Who is the temple dedicated to? Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy. ### How do I get there? About 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa station (Ginza and Asakusa lines). ### What is an omikuji? A paper fortune you draw for a donation. ### How long do you need? About an hour with Nakamise street. ### What's nearby? Asakusa Shrine and Tokyo Skytree. ## How we checked Main hall hours, the temple's founding legend of 628 and 645, and visitor numbers are from the official site. Buildings, Nakamise street and the pilgrimage route are from Wikipedia; we leave out the temple's 20th-century history. Nakamise stalls keep their own hours, so we give approximate times. Journey times are from guides. ## Sources - Senso-ji official site (senso-ji.jp) — main hall hours, founding legend, 30 million worshippers, festivals (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Sensō-ji — buildings, Nakamise, Asakusa Shrine, pilgrimage - Travel guides — journey times, Nakamise stalls (unofficial) - Wikidata Q615183 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.