Asakusa Shrine

Also called Sanja-sama, after the three fishermen it is dedicated to, this shrine enjoys lasting popularity among the tourists and locals alike. It is one of the few Tokyo temples which survived the bombings in the last year of the Second World War. Thanks to this, you can still admire the original construction of the building. The shrine hosts the annual Sanja Festival every May.

It was built in 1649 to honour the deified trio of local brothers, who, the rumour has it, discovered a statue of goddess Kannon in a river. That statue, if the legend is to be believed, still remains hidden in the Senso-ji temple nearby. Since 1951, the shrine is listed among the Important Cultural Property sites, selected by the Japanese government.

The area is filled with touristy shops and restaurants. The closer you get to the shrine though, the more you start to feel the tranquil, historical atmosphere of the place. Breathe in the scent of burned incense, which fills the air here and observe the locals, some clad in traditional Japanese clothing, pray. If you are lucky, you may even encounter a traditional wedding here.