Sensoji Temple

Sensoji, founded in 645, is Tokyo's oldest temple and one of the most visited sites in the country. The approach through Kaminarimon gate, with its massive red lantern, leads to Nakamise-dori, a bustling shopping lane lined with stalls selling traditional snacks, crafts, and souvenirs. The main hall enshrines a golden Kannon figure that legend says two fishermen pulled from the Sumida River. Beyond the main hall, a five-story pagoda, a serene garden, and the adjacent Asakusa Shrine offer quieter corners. Come early morning for relative calm, or return at night when the buildings are lit up and the crowds have thinned.