Although Senso-ji temple is the oldest in Tokyo most of the buildings were built after the second world war, due to the originals having been destroyed by bombing.
The above photo shows the Nakamise-dori, a 250 meter long street; once lined with market stalls that provided locals with necessities in the 18th century, but is now lined with stalls selling artifacts that any good tourist needs; folding chopsticks, green tea ice cream, Geta (wood sandals) and bright kimonos.
The first structure you arrive at down Nakamise-dori is the Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate, from which a huge lantern hangs. As you draw close up to this structure the age becomes apparent. The huge columns are cool steel, rather than timber and there aren’t the wonderful details in the eaves.
Despite Senso-ji being built in the 1960s and it feeling like a tourist attraction it is still very much a functioning temple. Along Nakamise-dori we ran into a group of third year college students, one of whom was ‘Job Hunter Ken’. They were on the way to pray for good fortune in Job Hunter’s search for employment.
Harry
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