Kaminarimon Gate

The gate before you marks the entrance to Sensō-ji—Tokyo’s oldest temple. It was built in the year 942, meaning it has stood through more than eleven centuries of history! Well not really, as the structure before you isn’t the original, since it was destroyed several times throughout history. This one was installed here in 1960, yet it still shows the beauty of ancient temple gates from many centuries back. This is the temple’s outer gate—the inner one is just a little further down the road. An unmissable landmark, standing 11 meters tall and wide, marking the entrance to one of Tokyo’s most emblematic streets. Take a moment to admire its striking details. The façade displays statues of the Shinto gods Fujin, god of the wind, and Raijin, god of thunder, while, on the other side, the Buddhist deity Tenryu and the goddess Kinryu protect the temple from storms and fire. Suspended beneath the arch hangs a giant red lantern, a chōchin, of almost 4 meters tall, 3 meters wide, and 700 kilograms. A traditional welcome to all people entering this sacred site. Be sure to look up as you walk beneath it: you’ll notice a carved dragon above, so what are you waiting for? Take a pic! This elegant gateway stirs the attention of many—a powerful way to begin your journey into one of Tokyo’s most sacred spaces.