Senso-ji temple

Approaching Senso-ji temple grounds via Nakamise-dori street

Our guidebooks warned us that the Senso-ji complex was always busy, and they were right.  The Senso-ji temples are located in the northeast section of Tokyo in the Asakusa district, which has been a thriving hub of Japanese culture since the 14th century.  On this warm April day, the road leading to the temple complex was jammed with pilgrims and tourists.  On the right are shops selling woodblock prints, kimonos, sweets and Godzilla toys.   (You are probably wondering if we ever saw the real Godzilla while in Tokyo, and the answer is no.  Not even a footprint.)

The massive main temple hall is just behind me.  Senso-ji is the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo. This Buddhist temple was founded in 645 C.E. and has been rebuilt over the centuries.  It was leveled by bombs during WWII, so what you are seeing is a reconstruction, but you wouldn't know it to look at it.

Samuel reads his fortune.

For a donation of Y100 ($1) you can get your very own omikuji (fortune).  Insert your coin, then extract a wooden dowel from the silver canister.  The dowel has a Kanji symbol on it that corresponds to one of hundreds of drawers.  Find your drawer, and pull out your fortune.  Samuel had "Regular Fortune" No. 45, which in fractured English informed him that a "satisfactory income" and a coach and horse were in his reach. Better yet, if he was a strong warrior, he could "control the whole country by just one arrow." An auspicious fortune indeed.  

Interior of main hall.  Pilgrims place coins in the large urn.