Senso-ji and Asakusa, Tokyo

Senso-ji is the oldest and liveliest temple in Tokyo, founded some fourteen centuries ago in the old-town district of Asakusa. Visitors pass beneath the great Kaminarimon gate with its huge red lantern, down the Nakamise approach lined with traditional stalls selling snacks and souvenirs, to the grand main hall and soaring five-storey pagoda, a vibrant slice of old Tokyo amid the modern metropolis.

What you actually see

• The Kaminarimon gate - the great gate with its huge red lantern.
• The Nakamise approach - the lane of traditional stalls to the temple.
• The main hall and pagoda - the grand temple and five-storey pagoda.
• The Asakusa district - the old-town streets and rickshaws around it.

When to go

Year-round and free; the temple grounds are open at all hours, magical and quiet when lit at night. Go early to beat the crowds on the Nakamise, and combine with the nearby Tokyo Skytree for old and new Tokyo together.

Honest expectations

It is one of Tokyo's most visited spots, so the Nakamise approach is packed by day and the stalls touristy; early morning and evening are calmer, and the lit temple at night is lovely and quiet. It is free. The surrounding Asakusa keeps a nostalgic, old-Tokyo charm.

Nearby

The Tokyo Skytree is across the river; the district of Ueno and its museums are nearby.