Asakusa at night（June 25, 2023）

Many thanks for joining our tour in Asakusa on June 25. We welcomed 30 people from UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Portugal, America, Singapore, Australia and Japan. It was hot but sunny weather in the middle of the rainy season. I hope you enjoyed the tour with us and treasure these memories. As promised, the pictures we took are posted.

Walking in the Sensoji grounds in the evening is great fun. The temple is always very crowded in the daytime, but at night, it’s much less crowded and easier to walk around. Also, you may feel a cool breeze around this time of the year. The buildings, statues and lanterns are all beautifully lit up until 11p.m. and the city night lights attract more tourists. You may pray and make a wish if you like even after the main hall is closed.

Go up to the 8th floor of the Culture Information Center and enjoy a panoramic view of Asakusa until the Center closes at 10p.m. You can see Japan’s tallest structure, the Tokyo Sky Tree, and other buildings from the rooftop. On the other side, the Sensoji temple buildings stand out with their bright lights.

The Kaminarimon gate is the landmark of Asakusa, and the big lantern is a symbol of Asakusa. The statues of the thunder god and the wind god stand out more clearly than in the daytime due to their spotlights.

The Nakamise Shopping Street pulls down their shutters. The history and seasonal events of Asakusa are depicted on the shutters of each shop. Daytime visitors are unable to see the pictures because the shutters are drawn during the day. It’s just like a street gallery.

Walking down on the Denpoin Street will make you feel as if you are travelling back to the Edo period. They have the five dolls from a Kabuki play on this street, because a playwright lived in this area. One of them is sitting on the roof. .Good luck in finding the other four.

The Hozomon gate houses a pair of the Nio guardian statues. They look more muscular than in the daytime. The back of the Hozomon gate displays a pair of giant sandals. It symbolizes an enormous man wearing the sandals and protecting the temple. The picturesque five-story pagoda is a symbol of Sensoji.

Although the Sensoji‘s main hall is closed in the evening after 5p.m. visitors can pray and make a wish at the offertory box of the main hall. Also, they can draw fortune slips.
The Sensoji grounds are quieter and cooler around this time. You can walk around more easily compared to during the day. The bright lights of the cityscape and the temple are amazing and are well worth a visit.

(Yoshi)