After spending the earlier part of the morning exploring Nakamise Shopping Street and the surrounding neighbourhood, we made our way back towards Sensoji Temple. By late morning, the area was absolutely packed with a mix of tourists and locals soaking in the historic atmosphere.
Passing through the grand Hozomon Gate with its iconic giant red lantern, we took a moment to check out the massive O-waraji (giant straw sandals) mounted on the inner wall, with the striking five-storied pagoda standing tall against the blue sky behind it.
Experiencing the Sensoji Temple Grounds
As non-religious visitors, we didn’t go in to pray, but there is plenty of cultural charm to soak in just wandering the grounds.
We watched the crowds gathering around the Jokoro—the giant bronze incense burner—cupping the fragrant smoke with their hands to waft it over their heads and bodies for good health.
We also stopped by the Temizuya dragon purification fountain to rinse our hands before heading towards the stalls.
At the amulet counter, we picked up a pair of silk Hada Mamori (Good Health Amulets) in classic red and green for ¥500 each, which made lovely, meaningful gifts for my parents.
Drawing Fortune Sticks: The 100-Yen Trust System
One of the most fun highlights of the visit was drawing Omikuji (fortune sticks). What makes this whole setup so endearing is that it operates completely on an honour system:
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Drop the coin: There are no staff manning the counter. You simply drop your ¥100 per person into the coin slot, purely based on trust.
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Shake the canister: You pick up the hexagonal metal canister and shake it (vigorously!) until a single wooden stick slides out through a tiny hole at the top.
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Match the drawer: Each stick is marked with a number. You match the number to one of the dozens of small wooden drawers lining the back wall of the stall, slide it open, and retrieve your fortune slip.
Now, the funny part.
The English translation printed on the back of each slip is clearly a very literal, word-for-word translation of the original Japanese text. So when we read it, it doesn’t quite make sense. Let’s just say some sentences sounded a bit weird:
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No. 48 Small Fortune (小吉): “Just like looking at the treasure of other people beyond the valley… Just like a giant happy bird fly up to the sky, you will succeed in this society, and rise to be famous in the world…”
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No. 61 Half Fortune (半吉): “Getting a beautiful lady at your home, you want to try all people know about this. If you want to meet a fortune, you decide the date of mouse and ox…”
What does that even mean? 😂
Thankfully, neither of us drew a bad fortune, so instead, we kept our slips rather than tying them to the designated red rack nearby.
Catching a Monkey Busker Show
To round off our visit, we walked past the garden grounds where a lively crowd had gathered around a bright red mat. We were lucky enough to stumble upon a lively monkey busker performance!
It was a traditional Japanese street show, and the little performer and his trainer had the whole crowd captivated with acrobatics and tricks. A truly memorable way to wrap up our time at Sensoji Temple.
Is Sensoji Temple Worth Visiting?
Visiting Sensoji Temple gave us a wonderful slice of traditional Tokyo culture—full of lively energy, unique rituals, and plenty of lighthearted moments. For this reason, it’s definitely worth visiting when you come to Tokyo!
