Senso-ji Asakusa

The Senso-ji temple in Asakusa is the most visited place in Tokyo and one of the most emblematic in all of Japan. Founded in the year 645, it is the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital and receives nearly twenty million visitors a year. The Kaminarimon gate, with its enormous red 670-kilo lantern, is the symbol par excellence of Tokyo. From there the Nakamise street sets off, a 250-metre shopping passage with almost ninety souvenir shops, traditional sweets (ningyo-yaki, senbei) and crafts. At the far end rise the great main hall and the five-storey pagoda. Access to the grounds is free and open 24 hours, although the temple interior closes between 18:00 and 6:00. To avoid the massive midday crowds, arrive before 9:00 and you will have the place almost to yourself, wrapped in the smoke of incense and the sound of prayers. You should shake the omikuji (paper oracle) as the locals do. Two minutes from Asakusa station (Ginza and Asakusa lines).