Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo prefecture

Senso-ji (Kinryu-zan Senso-ji), an ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa district, Taito special ward, is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant.

Having been bombed and mostly destroyed during World War II, then rebuilt, it became a symbol of rebirth and peace to the Japanese people. A tree in its courtyard, that was hit by a bomb in the air raids, regrew in the husk of the old tree and is a similar symbol to the temple itself.

Senso-ji is the center of Tokyo's largest and most popular Shinto festival, "Sanja Matsuri", which takes place in late spring.

SOURCE: Yasufumi Nishi, courtesy of Japan National Tourism Organization, used with permission.

---

NOTE: The information regarding Japan on this page is re-published from Japan National Tourism Organization. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Japan information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Japan should be addressed to Japan National Tourism Office.