A must-visit in Tokyo—Sensō-ji

Sensō-ji, officially known as Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji, is located in Asakusa 2-chome, Taito Ward, Tokyo, Japan, and is the oldest temple in Tokyo. The main deity, the Bodhisattva Kannon, is commonly known as 'Asakusa Kannon'. Kaminarimon - the gate of entry, also a classic spot for photographs. Hōzōmon - after passing through the Kaminarimon and shopping for specialties at Nakamise Shopping Street (one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan), you will reach the Hōzōmon. Omikuji - Incense - Omamori On both sides of the temple, you can see small booths for drawing and interpreting omikuji fortunes. Take the lucky ones with you, and tie the others to the nearby racks for Kannon's blessing. Pilgrims can purchase incense at the incense office to the right of the main hall, and also obtain omamori charms according to their personal wishes after doing their homework in advance. Main Hall - The place where the main deity, the Kannon statue, is enshrined, hence also called the Kannon Hall. Before visiting the main hall, cleanse yourself at the hand-watering pavilion and prepare a 5-yen coin (the homophonic 'go-en' implies a good connection). Gojū-no-tō - The top layer of the pagoda contains a relic from Sri Lanka. Now, the main hall of the pagoda is located on the west side, whereas it was on the east side before reconstruction. The bell of Sensō-ji used to mark the time by ringing during the Edo period. However, now it only rings once at 6 a.m. every day. On New Year's Eve, December 31st, the bell is rung 108 times according to Buddhist teachings, symbolizing the elimination of 108 worldly desires.