Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
Kaminarimon
The temple precinct begins at the majestic Kaminarimon, which houses a pair of
ferocious protective deities: Fūjin, the god of wind, on the right; and Raijin, the
god of thunder, on the left.
Nakamise-dōri
Straight on through the gate is the bustling shopping street known as Nakamise-
dōri. There are stalls selling all sorts of things - from souvenirs to genuine Edo-
style crafts to sweet
age-manjū
(deep-fried buns stuffed with
anko
- bean paste).
Five-storey Pagoda
This 53m-high, five-storey pagoda is a 1973 reconstruction of the one built by Tok-
ugawa Iemitsu in the 17th century. It's the second-highest pagoda in Japan.
Main Hall
In front of the grand main hall is a large incense cauldron. The smoke is said to be-
stow health, and you'll see people rubbing it into their bodies through their
clothes. The ancient image of Kannon is not on public display (and admittedly may
not exist at all), but this doesn't stop a steady stream of worshippers from paying
their respects.
Getting your Fortune
Before the main hall, plunk down ¥100 for an
omikuji
(fortune). Shake the silver
canister and extract a stick, noting its number (in kanji). Find the matching draw-
er and withdraw a paper fortune (there's English on the back). If you get a bad one
just tie the paper on the nearby rack, ask the gods for better luck and try again.
