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Asakusa is the temple town with Kinryuzan Sensoji Temple which is known by "Asakusa Kannon". It is a typical traditional shopping and entertainment district of Tokyo in which popular amusement quarters have developed. Sensoji Temple is the oldest temple of popular belief in Tokyo. The legend of the temple says that it enshrines a gold deity about 6 centimenters high which was found in the Sumida River in 628. The vermilion-lacquered Nakamise Avenue maintains traces of the Meiji Era. This is a popular town, which attracts many visitors.
Sensoji Temple
It has been said that the Sensoji Temple was completed in 645. This temple, the oldest in Tokyo, is always visited by people for worship, and is also well-known as the "Asakusa Kannon". In the precincts of the Temple, Japanese traditional events such as the Sanja Festival, Hozuki-ichi(ground cherry-market) and hagoita-ichi(battledore market) take place from season to season throughout the year and the area is crowded with tourists on these occasions. The present temple(the Main Hall) was rebuilt in 1958.
Kaminarimon Gate
Kaminarimon Gate is an extremely beautiful vermilion-lacquered gate which stands at the entrance to the shopping lane called Nakamise avenue and displays the front of the Main Hall of the Sensoji Temple. This gate is one of the main attractions of Asakusa. On the right , the God of Wind, and on the left, the God of Thunder are enshrined, wishing happiness to all. The present gate was reconstructed in 1960.
Goju-no-To(Five Story Pagoda)
In Japan many of the large temples have three or five story roofed pagodas. In case of the Sensoji temple, the five story pagoda, rebuilt in 1973 measures approximately 64m in height.
Asakusa Shrine
The Asakusa Shrine is dedicated to the Hinokuma brothers, Hamanari and Takenari, and also Matsuchi Haji. According to the legend, they picked up the Image of Asakusa kannon in the Sumida River. The Asakusa Shrine is also called "Sanja sama". It was constructed in 1694 in the same architectural style gongen-zukuri of the Ueno Toshogu.
Sanja Matsuri Festival
The Sanja Matsuri Festival is one of the three biggest Tokyo festivals. It is held at Asakusa Shrine on Saturday and Sunday in the middle of May. Approximately, a hundred Mikoshi(carry shrines) are carried during this festival. (Location:Asakusa Shrine Date:May third sat and sun)
Nakamise Avenue
The vermilion-lacquered arcade on both sides of the lane from Kaminarimon to Sensoji is generally known as Nakamise Avenue. Dozens of stores selling a variety of souvenirs and articles such as rice crackers called kaminari-okoshi, clothes,etc., line the avenue.
Asakusa Samba Carnival
A Japanese version of the RIO Carnival. A grandiose parade, commencing at dusk.(Location:Kaminarimon Dori Avenue and Umamiti Dori Avenue Date:End of August)
Hozuki-Ichi(Lantern plants market)
It is said that if one visits and prays to the Goddess of Mercy(Kannon) on this day, the effect would be the same as one had prayed every day for 46,000 days. In the precincts of the temple, lantern plants (Hozuki) believed to drive out heat, are sold. (Location:On the grounds of the Sensoji Temple Date:July 9th and 10th)
Hagoita-Ichi
About 60 stalls selling Hagoita(Japanese battledore) are set up, attracting large crowds of female customers. (Location:On the grounds of the Sensoji Temple Date:December 17th-19th)
Riverside Park
Sumida-Gawa RiverSide Park
Around Ueno
Ueno is a temple town which developed around Kaneiji temple in the Edo Era. Ueno is famous throughout Japan for "Cherry blossoms" and "Ueno Park". Ueno Park used to be the extensive precincts of the Toeizan Kaneiji Temple. Afterward, it became the first park in Japan in April in 1873(Meiji 6). *The Tokyo National Museum(the largest museum in Japan, has about 86,000 exhibits) *National Science Museum *National Western Art Museum *Ueno Zoological Garden (Japan's first public zoological garden. Opened in 1882.) They are found in Ueno Park, making this park a sort of forest of cultural facilities representing Japan.

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