Asakusa Sensoji Temple

History meets modernity among the buzzing streets of Asakusa, where traditional culture pulses from Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Sensoji, in the heart of it all. One of Tokyo’s most visited districts, Asakusa’s temple-goers mingle among curious visitors, praying as incense smoke wafts through the air circling the 5-storied pagoda, and glorious lanterns hang marking the orange entrance of the Kaminarimon gate. The centuries-old Nakamise Shopping Street runs for 200 meters leading up to Sensoji, where vendors call out selling souvenirs while the smell of street food wafts through the air. Backstreets surrounding Sensoji offer tiny restaurants and hole-in-the-wall bars, alongside artisanal shop fronts showcasing local wares and traditional crafts. Just off to the west awaits the plastic food samples of Kappabashi, Tokyo’s Kitchen Street, selling high-quality knives and professional cooking tools. A little further beyond, Ueno Park’s zoo and museums offer wide open spaces and quiet contemplative places. Constructed in 645 for Kannon (the goddess of mercy), Sensoji serves as a significant religious monument offering a taste of traditional Japanese culture and food in Asakusa.