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Asakusa Shrine was founded in 628 when two brother, Hamanari and Takenari fished a Buddhist statue out of the Sumida River while fishing The local chieftain took this as a sign, began to practice Buddhism in earnest, and founded the Sensoji Temple on the spot The Asakusa shrine complex grew from these simple beginnings, and now the site houses numerous temples The Kaminari-mon gate leads to Nakamise street, a bustling venue with shops on both sides, forming an entryway to the Kannondo Temple Midway between the gate and the Kannondo Temple is a large urn The urn contains ashes, and is used to burn paper wishes
The wishes are purchased at the temple, and then committed to the urn while praying fervently that the wish be granted or avoided Part of the process involves inhaling the smoke
The heart of the Asakusa complex is the Kannondo Temple Entrance to the temple is made through the Hozo Mon Gate, which resembles the Kaminari-mon gate in structure, although a bit larger and more ornate The gate was once referred to as the Nio Mon Gate because the statues of Nio, the Guardian diety of the Buddha, are installed on the right and left side of the gate, as well as paper lanterns dedicated by the local fisher markets in gratitude to Tokugawa Ieyasu Moving inward from the Nio Mon gate, is the Kannondo Hall or Asakusa Kannon There is a public area and the inner Asakusa-Jingu There are in fact three shrines in the middle, main, and outer hall, and they are transported on the backs of worshippers during the Shanja Festival
There are other temple temples more on the periphery of the complex The pagoda contains the ashes and memorial tablet of the Buddha, while the Denpoin Temple refers to the main temple of the Sensoji Temple, and was a study and library for priests
Address:
2-3-1 Asakusa
Tokyo, 13 111-0032 Japan |
