Page 44 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

42 ❯❯ The Top 10 of Everything

Places of Worship

Senso-ji Temple
1 rebuilt many times. The current
This massive religious edifice
reconstruction of the 1616 design,
is the focus of life in the Asakusa has a copper roof, copper torii gate,
district. The sweeping roof of the and an ornate main entrance gate.
main hall is visible from Kaminari-
Nezu Shrine
mon, the great gate to the temple. 4
Inside the main hall, burning candles, MAP E1 • 1-28-9 Nezu,
incense sticks, and votive plaques add Bunkyo-ku • 3822-0753
to the air of sanctity (see pp14–15). Established in 1706 by the fifth
shogun, Tsunayoshi, Nezu Shrine
is dedicated to Inari, the goddess
of rice. The shrine grounds have
retained most of the original
structures. Tall cedars, ginkgo trees,
and a carp pond create a strikingly
natural setting. A painted gate,
orange torii (gates), and bright
banners add color.
Yushima Seido Temple
5
Richly decorated Senso-ji temple MAP F3 • 1-4-25 Yushima,
Bunkyo-ku • 3251-4606 • Open
Sengaku-ji Temple
2 9:30am–5pm (to 4pm Oct–Mar)
MAP C1 • 2-11-1 Takanawa,
One of the few Confucian temples in
Minato-ku • 3441-5560 • Open Tokyo, Yushima Seido was founded in
7am–6pm (to 5pm Oct–Mar) 1632. The current site and its great
The graves of the 47 loyal ronin stone-flagged courtyard date from
(retainers), who committed suicide 1935. A statue of Confucius is located
after avenging their master’s death near the main gate.
(see p38), can be found in this temple,
Yasukuni Shrine
which dates from 1612. The main hall 6
was obliter ated in the 1945 air raids MAP D3 • 3-1-1 Kudankita,
but has been faithfully reconstructed. Chiyoda-ku • 3261-8326
• Open 9am–4:30pm
Kanda Myojin Shrine
3 Politics and religion coexist
uncomfortably at Yasukuni Shrine,
MAP F3 • 2-16-2 Soto-Kanda,
Chiyoda-ku • 3254-0753 dedicated to the souls of Japan’s war
Founded in 730, but first built on this
site in 1616, this temple has been The entrance to Kanda Myojin Shrine

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