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Senso-ji Temple

Senso-ji Temple

Senso-ji Temple
4.5
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
According to legend, two brothers kept trying to return a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, to the Sumida River only to have it returned to them the next day. This temple located in Tokyo's Asakusa district was built to honor her.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Ueno, Asakusa
Traces of the history and culture of the Edo (old Tokyo) era remain vividly in Ueno and Asakusa. Spacious Ueno Park is a great place to relax and visit a variety of different museums and galleries. At Ameyoko which starts in front of Ueno station, the grocery stores and clothing shops are crammed alongside fishmongers. It gets particularly busy at the end of the year, when many people go on shopping sprees. The town of Asakusa, developed around Sensoji temple, has many shops selling goods and clothing from old Japan, making it a great place for souvenir hunting. It's also known for various annual festivals, and the whole district gets involved with the huge Sanja Festival in May.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Sue S
    Kingston, Canada379 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Definitely worth a visit!
    Arrived on a Saturday evening and it was jam-packed but well worth seeing! And bonus.....it's free! This iconic temple was very impressive. There was also a long street with numerous vendors selling souvenirs and incense. Off to the side, there were food stalls that sold delicious snacks (crab cakes, tempura fish just to name a few). The temple is only a few subway stops from Tokyo Skytree. This is a must-see if visiting Tokyo.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 October 2023
  • MelissaL0715
    Tampa, Florida912 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Busy, but beautiful temple - lots of shopping
    We visited Senso-ji temple with our daughter and her Japanese friends on our recent trip from the US.. As we reach the area, we immediately noticed the massive amount of street market retailers. From what we can tell, the only way to reach the temple is to go through the market, which was really busy. If you haven’t done any souvenir shopping, this is definitely the place to do it as there were a ton of handmade gifts as well as manufactured as well. Mostly made in Japan, which is nice. The temple itself is very large and beautiful. Quite colorful and aesthetically pleasing. Worth a visit
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 18 October 2023
  • Julia
    Nottingham, United Kingdom53 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see in Tokyo
    Definitely place to visit. Has great temple (although comparing to Tokyo to touristic), pictures small garden with fish and heron (it was one at time). Great view of Padoga at sunset. From other side it’s overcrowded, but also good place for souvenirs (long streets of boots).
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 20 October 2023
  • Wraxall_Travellers
    Bristol, United Kingdom1,066 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Busy Temple with Shops Nearby
    There are some beautiful buildings here and well worth a visit. Expect the main buildings to be busy too. The building on the edge are less busy. There are shops nearby which are interesting. There are toilets on site too.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 November 2023
  • SagaloutsTour
    Gerrards Cross, United Kingdom1,147 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    One Of The Must See
    We visited here with our guide, very impressive busy Temple, with many souvenir stalls leading to it. There is a smoking wishing well, where you put smoke over your head for good luck and health. You can buy Japanese written good wishes for many things to give to your family. To the right hand side is a very simple shrine, where you give thanks Very interesting visit to help understand Japanese culture
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 November 2023
  • Anne S
    Leeds, United Kingdom600 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must-See
    Visited on a Sunday and it was very busy and atmospheric. All the buildings were very impressive. On the road leading up to the gate there were lots of shops selling a multitude of things including street food, patisserie and gifts. The area is very interesting and not to be missed.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 November 2023
  • vickicork
    Tampa, Florida429 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see in Tokyo
    Great place to visit . We took the train from Tokyo station , saw the shrine , had our fortune read there and then took train to Akihabara from there. Really liked Nakamise Dori street
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 December 2023
  • pearlypearl
    Singapore, Singapore691 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    You can’t miss this
    We only had 1 day in Tokyo and I decided to choose this temple due to its convenient location. Lots of tourists like us taking pics at the Kaminarimon gate. Loved the souvenir n food shops on both sides of the passage way towards the temple. Though it was crowded, we had a great time looking through the souvenir shops.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 December 2023
  • Ezra B
    Howick, New Zealand414 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful and must visit
    A must-see in Tokyo - Senso-Ji and its surrounding area is a sight to behold. Because of this though you can expect it to be quite busy when visiting, but even with crowds it is well worth it. Before or after visiting the shrine you can buy food from the surrounding stalls. It is easy to get to as the metro station is right next door.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 December 2023
  • Anuj Srivastava
    Chicago, Illinois889 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Shrine worth visiting
    Senso-ji temple is the most prominent shrine in Tokyo that you must visit if you are in Tokyo. Lot of options for shopping and street food around temple campus. It becomes crowded in evening and hence you need to factor some time if you are visiting this place.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles9,617 reviews
Excellent
4,745
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3,838
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68
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Itravel0ne
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia2,457 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
This is a big temple and worthy of visit and photo taking. At the entrance to the temple is the Kaminarimon or "Thunder Gate" which features a massive paper lantern dramatically painted in vivid red-and-black tones to suggest thunderclouds and lightning. The approach to the temple is lined with interesting shops selling souvenir items, food and traditional Japanese products. So the visit actually begin here. Adjacent to the temple is a five-story pagoda, the Asakusa Shinto shrine. At the temple the active activity is the omikuji where you can try your fortune telling with a small payment of 100¥.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen6945
Perth, Australia42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Just a must see thing to do in Tokyo. Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple. There are heaps of traditional shops lining an entry street to the Temple. The big lantern at the front is always shown in pictures of Japan. Recommend the area for a visit. Just go there.

For those with a JR Pass, make your way to the Ueno Station and then swap train lines to pay to get to Asakusa (or even JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa).
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Davesamtt
Trinidad and Tobago56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Family
This is an impressive temple in Tokyo so if you are looking for one to go to get a flavor for what the fuss is about, this is an excellent choice. Fyi, Temples are for Buddhism worship while shrines are for Shintoism worship. “Ji” means temple.

The entrance is super large with extra large lanterns and god like statutes. After you enter, look out for a counter where you can take part in traditional fortune telling Japanese style. There you get the fortune written in paper by shaking a box. If you don’t like what it says you can leave it behind tying it to nearby poles.

The temples grounds is a collection of ornately designed buildings including a 5 storey pagoda.

The main temple is impressive with large statutes, incense burning, customary golds and reds in the design and squares of intricate art work and paintings on ceiling. There you can burn some incense and you can imagine there is a lot of that happening. People will be trying to cover themselves in this holy smoke. Lots of crowds and tourists but important to keep the solemnity of the visit as it’s a temple - though Japanese crowds are very respectful so there is no jostling.

The environs of the building has some interesting nuggets like an Shinto shrine with the iconic torri gate and a street market with delicious street food. You can try a little of everything.

This temple was impressive due to its large size and statues. There are many to choose from in Tokyo but after research this was on of the top options. This tour here and environs was organized by Novaland Tours who did a great job in putting it all together and providing a helpful guide. Other things you can fit into on the day you visit Sensoji Temple are Tokyo SkyTower, Akihabara area, Club Sega VR (Game Center with virtual reality options) and maybe try a Maid Cafe for a laugh..emphasis on maybe... ;-)
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thorneta
Brisbane, Australia326 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
Visited on 2nd January at about 1pm - the corridors leading to the temple was just a sea of people. I bailed out as it was going to take too long to get to the temple.

I returned the following day at 8am - significantly smaller crowds and easy to move around the site with ease.

The temple is a sprawling expanse of smaller temples - plenty to see and take in. Best temple in Tokyo for mine.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Wandering Reviewer
Melbourne, Australia12,173 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
This is a must visit and the busier the day the better the atmosphere. Located in the heart of the city, it is a large temple that is surrounded by other smaller temples including the five storey pagoda. There are gardens, waterways and on weekends many, many stalls of food. Plus there are places for offerings, blessings and good fortune.
To be in the sway and melee of people all moving from one end of the temple to the other is quite a unique experience and one that’ll stay with me for a long time.
Plenty of toilets nearby.
Wheelchair accessible. Kid friendly. Lots of food and refreshments.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emma C
Godalming, UK3,052 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Solo
I find myself drawn here each and every time I am in Tokyo. On my first few visits I went during the day time which was always packed so nowadays I go in the evening. It's a lot quieter (but still busy) and it's all so well lit up I think it looks even more beautiful. I tend to avoid any of the lucky charms and head straight to pay my respects and then wander around. This time I went around the back of the main hall and found ponds, koi, buddhas and peace. Lovely!

I like to have a mooch around the shops the line the street that leads to the main hall. Always interesting and full of life.

Head to Asakusa station on the Asakusa or Ginza line. The station is not set up for those with mobility issues or in wheelchairs though...they are working on it.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KitGen
Makati, Philippines8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
We went twice, one at daytime when the way leading to the main temple was flooded eith tourists, and then we came back early evening. There were fewer people and the temple was lit up. We also opted to visit the stores at the back of the main souvenir shops. If you want a more special souvenir, try visiting them. They would gladly make a special packaging if you mention that you intend to give it as a gift. The person will truly feel special.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

milcah889
Quezon City, Philippines1,063 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The architecture of the temples and shrines in Asakusa is undeniably beautiful. Donned in brilliantly bright hues of festive reds and yellows, these religious structures are definitely something to marvel at.

Unfortunately, as the place draws both Buddhists and tourists alike, the place was jam-packed when we visited the area.

Admittedly though, I enjoyed eating my way through Asakusa (trying out their tempura dishes and browsing through shops along Nakamise Shopping Street) than the actual visit to the Senso-ji Temple and the Asakusa Shrine.

If you're in Asakusa for a limited time, it's best to just defer your temple run to some other time.
Written 21 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erkki N
Finland884 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Probably the best known temple in Tokyo this Asakusa treat is highly recommended for any Tokyo visitor. The huge lantern at the outer gate is iconic for the site, followed by Nakamise Shopping street, a market area with stalls of small vendors providing a wide variety of Japanese traditional items good for souvenirs. The temple itself is active among locals, so you can see them visiting the place for prayers. We visited around dusk and had the opportunity to see the temple both in daylight and later illuminated in the darkening evening.

There isn’t much of a garden in this temple, but the buildings, including a five-store pagoda are beautiful. The area has a special atmosphere in the area unlike other parts of Tokyo I have visited. If you are into Japanese temples and gardens, you should visit Kyoto rather than Tokyo, but if you are only staying in Tokyo for a couple of days, here you can at least get a glimpse of what they are about.

Visiting the temple is free of charge. In addition to subway you can get there by Sumida river cruise. Tokyo Skytree is close nearby for further excursion. There are also several restaurants next to the area, I particularly like the conveyor-belt sushi place Ganso Sushi.
Written 9 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Juhi K
Sydney, Australia412 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Absolutely sensational temple. The architecture, atmosphere and colours all come together to create an abundant experience. I highly recommend going as early as its open to have less crowds in your pics and have a calmer experience
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa

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