Senso-ji in Asakusa: when to go, and how to see it without the crowds
Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in the seventh century, and the most visited place in the old town of Asakusa. By midday the Kaminarimon gate and the shopping street behind it are packed shoulder to shoulder. Early in the morning, or after dark, it is a completely different place.
What you will see
You enter through Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate with its giant red lantern, and walk up Nakamise, a street of small shops selling snacks and souvenirs. Beyond the Hozomon gate stand the main hall and the five storey pagoda. Inside the grounds you can draw an omikuji fortune and wave incense smoke from the great burner over yourself for good health.
Dawn: the temple almost to yourself
The grounds are open at all hours and the main hall opens early in the morning. Between about 6:30 and 8:00 there are only locals praying and a few photographers, and the light on the pagoda is soft. The Nakamise shops are still shuttered, which is part of the charm, and they open from around 9:00.
After dark: the temple lit up
The main hall closes around 17:00, but the buildings are illuminated in the evening and the grounds stay open. Kaminarimon and the pagoda glow against the night sky, with a fraction of the daytime crowds. It is the best time for photographs, and Asakusa has good izakaya for dinner nearby.
Pairing it with the Skytree and the river
Tokyo Skytree is across the Sumida River, about ten minutes by car or a twenty minute walk. A classic half day is Senso-ji at dawn, breakfast in Asakusa, a walk by the river and the Skytree when it opens. Kimono rental shops around the temple open mid morning if you want to dress for photographs.
By car, and the price
Trains run from early morning, but with a car you can be at the gate at sunrise from anywhere in the city, and the chauffeur waits while you walk. It is from ¥16,000 per hour with a two hour minimum; a dawn visit usually takes two to three hours, and our Asakusa and Skytree tour covers the whole area. Your chauffeur can speak English, Italian, Spanish, French or Japanese, at the same price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Senso-ji?
Early morning, between about 6:30 and 8:00, or after dark when the temple is illuminated. Midday is the most crowded.
Is Senso-ji open at night?
The grounds are open at all hours and the buildings are lit up in the evening. The main hall itself closes around 17:00.
What time do the Nakamise shops open?
From around 9:00, closing in the early evening.
How far is Senso-ji from Tokyo Skytree?
About ten minutes by car or a twenty minute walk across the Sumida River.