Page 93 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

NOR THERN T OK Y O  91

. Main Hall
Inside the hall (1958) the VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
gold-plated main shrine
houses the orig inal Kannon Practical Information
image. Worshipers come Map 4 E2, 4 F2–3. n by station
to pay their respects (03) 3842-0181.  Asakusa stn,
by throwing coins Ginza & Toei-Asakusa lines.
and lighting candles. Temple: Open 6am–5pm daily
(Oct–Mar: from 6:30am).
Nakamise-dori: Open 9.30am–
7pm daily. _ Sanja Matsuri (3rd
Fri–Sun in May), Hagoita-Ichi
(Battledore Fair, Dec 17–19).
∑ senso-ji.jp
Transport
£ Tobu-Asakusa stn, Tobu-
Isesaki line.

. Main Hall
Several large paintings hang inside
the main hall. The painting of angels
with lotus flowers is a 20th-century
work by Insho Domoto.

KEY
1 The Garden, of Dembo-in
(abbot’s residence) is a tranquil
stroll garden used as a training
center for monks. It is a masterly
arrangement of trees, bamboo
groves, lawns, and water.
2 Awashima-do Hall, is dedicated
Incense Burner to a deity who looks after women.
One of the temple’s focal points, 3 This hexagonal temple, is
this incense burner (jokoro) is a rare survivor from the 15th or
constantly surrounded by people 16th century.
wafting the smoke over them to
keep them healthy. 4 Yogodo Hall, houses eight recent
Buddha statues.
5 Asakusa Jinja, built in 1649, is a
shrine dedicated to the fisher men
who found the Kannon statue.
6 Niten-mon gate was built in
1618 as the entrance to the original
Hozo-mon Gate Tosho-gu Shrine.
Built in 1964 of
reinforced concrete, 7 Benten-yama Shoro belfry
this two-story gate stands amid a group of temple
has a treasure house buildings. The bell used to ring
upstairs holding on the hour in Edo.
a number of 8 Statues donated by a wealthy
14th-century Edo merchant.
Chinese sutras.

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