Asakusa District, Japan
Located in the east of the city. There is the Sensoji temple, 1400 years old. The entrance to the temple is located just outside the subway station. Nakamise have to cross a huge market with 87 shops, where you can find everything: food, as in Shimizu-Ya-Do Bairin Jewish, kimonos and yukata in Kazusa-Ya, umbrellas and parasols Nishimija Shoten, toys in Inaba, T-shirts, baseball caps, takeaways, etc.
Legend has it that in 628 two brothers were fishing in the Sumida River. and took the statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. They decided to return the statue to the river, but do what they did, the goddess appeared again. Sensoji Temple was built in honor of this goddess, and is considered the oldest church in the city.
They say that burning incense is good luck here, so there are always dozens of people with their hands on a kind of ovens where incense is burned, and then passed his hands over his head. Outside the temple there is a kind of stalls where the faithful write their wishes on a wooden plaque (Ema) and strung on a thread. They seek favors from the gods: from adopting a test, to the healing of a family. Sometimes you can read some like: “I play video games all day” or “I belong to the musical group Morning Musume.” No comments …
In many temples you’ll see a swastika decorating flashlights and lanterns. Nothing to do with the Nazi emblem. In Japan this symbol dates back to prehistoric times and represented the sun. He also appeared in ancient books of alchemy. That is, long before the Nazis took as its emblem, the swastika already had another meaning for Japanese and Hindus. It also appears in many drawings sleeves without necessarily referring to National Socialism.
This temple was destroyed during the Second World War, so it was almost entirely rebuilt. The temple always open and admission is free. This takes place during the carnival samba August. It has three entries, but the best known is Kaminarimon.
Source: www.viajeajapon.com/asak.htm