Sensōji Temple @ 浅草寺

Location: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Tokyo
Coordinates: 35.71475° N, 139.796761° E
How to get there: Subway trains are available from the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, Tsukuba Express and Tobu Railways. From Tokyo Station, take the JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station, then transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa. From Shinjuku Station, take the orange JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line.

Today we didn't go for far distance attraction, but instead we concentrate to visit famous places around Tokyo area. Here it is, we arrived at Tokyo's oldest temple, which is an ancient Buddhist temple. At the main gate, there is a giant red latern welcoming its visitors. It is also known as "Thunder Gate".

On the way to the Sensoji temple, visitor will need to passing Nakamise, which is full of stores alongside the pathway selling lot of souvenirs. It is about 200m long and visitor is spoilt for choices. I have chosen a mini "samurai" as my envelope opener.

Also, we noticed a very big "sandal" hanging on the entrance. Though I not sure what does it mean, I still believe there is a purpose to put such a huge sandal there. Everything has a purpose.

While we were there, the temple is under construction. It was covered by scaffolding. Renovation is expected to be completed by end of November 2010, means it was about 11 months from the day we set our foot there. The slogan they put up really attract my attention. "Today's Work, Tomorrow's Heritage". That's how the place is always kept maintained so that the next generation of our children still able to view the world's heritage.

Once we entered, we able to see the five-story pagoda which standing tall at 48m.

The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built there for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.

For more information, you may get information from http://www.senso-ji.jp/about/index_e.html.