Tokyo Senso-ji temple

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For many years I flew to Tokyo and had layovers there. I usually was so tired that I only explored the area around Narita. My husband Tim and I decided to visit and explore Tokyo and we were delighted by our finds. We stayed in Roppongi and decided to use mostly the subway for transportation. I was a little intimidated by the language barrier but found it quite easy to navigate. Most Japanese people speak some English and they were so kind that we never felt lost or uncomfortable.

Our first trip was to the Senso-ji temple in Asakusa. It was founded in 628 and is the oldest temple site in Tokyo and is their capital's spiritual center. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Kannon and there is a 3 inch statue of Kannon located inside the temple. There are two enormous straw sandals on either side of the Hozomon Treasury Gate and they were made for diffferent Gods with feet of mythical size. The sandals symbolize the traditional footwear of Buddhist pilgrims. There is a five story pagoda on the temple grounds that is the second highest in Japan.

We traveled around the temple grounds and walked onto Nakamise-dori which is the main street into the temple grounds. It is packed with many stalls and booths selling traditional Japanese goods, souveniers and food. We watched a baker making chocolate biscuits and they were yummy. Not too sweet but light and delicious. There was a huge incense burner right in front of the main temple. The smoke from this cauldron is said to bestow health...if any part of your body (modesty permitting) is giving you troubles, you just waft some of the smoke over the affected part of your body.

On returning to the temple grounds and saw two precious little girls dressed in twin leopard outfits who were enjoying baby octopus skewers. I couldn't bring myself to try one but everyone was buying and eating them. The cherry trees were just beginning to bloom and people were taking pictures fo them everywhere. The day we went to the temple was a national holiday so the grounds were filled with people enjoying the day.

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Photos

Temple Dragon
There were dragons everywhere entertwined in the architecture of the temple

Senso-ji main hall ceiling
The interior of the temple is beautifully decorated and the ceiling is painted with colorful pictures of dragons surrounded by angels and lotus flowers

Giant straw sandals
Made for dieties with feet of mythic size

Five story pagoda
This five story pagoda was located on the grounds of the Senso-ji temple. It is the second highest in Japan

Denbo-in Garden
This garden was designed in the early 1600's by Zen gardner Kobori Enshu. They perform tea ceremonies here

Little leopards
These tiny ones were enjoying their day at the temple

Japanese baker
Nakamise-dori is a busy pedestrian street located near the grounds of the Senso-ji temple. You can buy many things here. We watched this baker make chocolate biscuits...then we bought some! YUM!

Baby Octopus skewers
There were many food stands and these baby octopus skewers were flying off the stands.

Cherry Blossoms
Japan is known for it's beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring. They were just beginning to bloom while we were there

Memorial
May Peace Prevail on Earth