The Kaminarimon is the first of the ornate gates that lead to the Senso Ji Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. The word Kaminarimon means thunder gate.
The Kaminarimon was constructed over a thousand years ago by Taira no Kinmasa during the Samurai period in 942. It was relocated to the present location in 1635. It burned down in 1639 and was constructed again by the shogun lord Tokugawa Lemitsu. The present structure was renovated in 1960.
The Kiminarimon is 11.7 meters tall and 11.4 meters wide. There are four statues within the gate. In the front, the statue of the Shinto God of the wind Fujin is on the east and the God of thunder, Riajin is on the west. Towards the back of the gate are statues of the Buddhist God Tenryu and the Goddess, Kinryu. A giant red paper lantern or Chochin hangs in the center that was a donation of the founder of the company now called Panasonic. The front of the lantern has the name Kaminarimon painted and on the back is the official name of the gate, Furaijinmon. It has a wooden base with a sculpture of a dragon. It is collapsed during festivals to allow temple objects to pass through the gate.

The Nakamise Dori is a shopping street that leads from the Kaminarimon Gate to the Senso Ji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. The shopping street is popular with both locals visiting the temple and tourists looking for souvenirs.
The Nakamise Dori was established in 1685. The 12 subsidiary temples that lined both sides of the Senso Ji temple were allowed to put stalls in front selling souvenirs after promising local residents that the area would be maintained and kept clean by them. The name Nakamise means inner shopping street because it is sandwiched between two other larger commercial areas. In 1885, the government evicted the shopkeepers and built a line of brick and vermilion lacquered shop buildings. The market was damaged by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and rebuilt only to be destroyed again during the bombings of World War II.
Approximately 90 shops line the 250 meter street. The shops sell ningyoyaki, a baked confectionary, handmade rice crackers, local crafts, masks, dolls, casual kimonos and happi coats or short kimono styled coats. Professional performers come here to purchase accessories used for traditional dances and theatrical performances. Visitors can also buy tourist souvenirs like tee shirts and caps in Nakamise Dori on their way to the Senso Ji temple.

The Hozomon is the inner gate that houses the treasures of the Senso Ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. It has two floors and the temple treasures are stored in the upper floor.
The Hozomon was first built in 942 by the then military commander, Taira no Kinmasa. He prayed at the Senso Ji temple that he may become the Lord of Tokyo and built the gate in gratitude when he achieved his goal. The original gate was burned by a fire in 1631. The 3rd Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Lemitsu rebuilt the Hozomon. This gate stood for 300 years till it was destroyed by the World War II bombings. The present Hozomon is a steel reinforced structure built with fire resistant materials for the safety of the temple treasures.
The Hozomon has two 5.5 meter tall statues of Nios or deities that guard Lord Buddha. It also has three large paper lanterns including one large and prominent red chochin donated by the residents of the town of Funamachi in 2003. They donated it to the temple to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Edo period. On either side are two copper lanterns weighing 1000 kilograms each. The treasures preserved in the upper floor are a copy of the Lotus Sutra, a designated Japanese national treasure and the Issai Kyo, a complete collection of Buddhist scriptures that is designated as an important cultural property of Japan. At the back of the gate are two straw sandals called the Waraji.

The Gojunoto or Five storied pagoda forms part of the Senso Ji complex in Asakusa, Tokyo. It is the second highest in Japan, the highest being the pagoda of the Toji Temple of Kyoto.
The first Gojunoto pagoda was constructed in 942 by the military commander Taira No Kinmasa. The original pagoda was burned down and another was built in1650 by Tokugawa Lemitsu. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1816 and rebuilt in 1818. In 1911 it was designated as a national treasure. The pagoda was damaged during World War II in 1945 and the present structure was constructed in 1973.
The present Gojunoto is made of fire resistant reinforced concrete and steel. It is 53.32 meters high and has a central pillar made of Japanese cypress wood which is the standard form of architecture in almost all Japanese pagodas. The five floors are loosely packed around the central pillar in an architectural style called the new Toinzukuri style. This type of design is meant to make the structure resistant to earthquakes. It also houses a lecture hall and contains the ashes or Busshari and the tablet or Rehai of the Buddha. The relics of the Buddha are stored in the top floor of the Gojunoto.

The Senso ji Temple also known as the Asakusa Kannon temple is the oldest and most popular among Buddhist temples in Tokyo. It is the most visited temple by tourists in Tokyo and is famous for the many colorful and vibrant festivals and events that take place all through the year.
According to legend, two fishermen Hinokuma Hamanari and his brother Takenari drew a golden statue of the Bodhisattva Kannon, the Goddess of mercy from the River Sumida. They tried putting it back into the river but it resurfaced time and again. The village headman of Asakusa heard their story and understood the significance of the idol. He became a Buddhist monk and converted his home into a temple which is now the well known Senso Ji temple. The Tokugawa Shoguns were devotees of the temple and expanded the structure and gave it the reverential importance it enjoys today. It was burned down in the World War II bombings and was rebuilt by worshippers. The golden statue of Kannon is still housed within the temple but is never shown to the public.
Over 30 million visitors and pilgrims visit the temple annually and it is the venue for important festivals. The Sanja Matsuri, the largest festival of the Asakusa Shrine is celebrated every year in May and the Asakusa Samba Carnival takes place annually in August.

The Asakusa Shrine is located on the east side of the Senso Ji temple in Tokyo. It is a Shinto shrine that was built to honor the three men who built the Senso Ji Temple.
The Asakusa Shrine was built in 1649 by the Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Lemitsu. The Bodhisattva Kannon statue in the Senso Ji Temple appeared in the fishing net of two fishermen brothers, Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari. Its significance was recognized by the headman of the Asakusa village, Hajino Nakatumo who converted his house into what is now the Senso Ji temple. All three men became Buddhist monks and are enshrined as deities in the Asakusa Shrine.
The Asakusa shrine is located down a small street east of the Senso Ji Temple. A large stone gateway leads visitors and worshippers into the shrine. Unlike most historic and religious structures in Tokyo, it survived the bombing raids of World War II in 1945. The Japanese Government designated the shrine as an important cultural property in 1951. It has an architectural style called Gonden Zukuri. The shrine is guarded by two stone guardian half lion half dog sculptures called the Komainu who protect it from evil. It is the venue of the Sanja festival held annually in May which is one of the three most important festivals celebrated in Tokyo.

Located on the grounds of the Senso-ji temple, the Ichikawa Danjuro IX Statue is dedicated to one of the most famous kabuki actors in Japan - Ichikawa Danjuro. He was the head of Kabuki-za theatre and the first kabuki actor to appear in a film.

Hanayashiki is the oldest amusement park in Japan and has entertained hundreds of young visitors for over 146 years. It is a small facility that is packed with 20 interesting rides for children and adults.
The Hanayashiki was first opened as a flower park in 1853 when the commodore of the US Navy, Matthew Galbraith Perry visited Tokyo in the late Edo era. In 1872, play equipments were installed to entertain children. Western movies were shown in a small theater and a small zoo with exotic birds and animals was located inside. In 1923, tiger quintuplets were born here and in 1931, the first lion was born in Japan at the Hanayashiki.
After World War II, it became an amusement park managed by the Togo Company. The company has celebrated 50 years of managing the 146 year old park. It has become the most popular amusement park in the city. Besides rides, there are many lunchrooms and a shop selling park related souvenirs. Parents can purchase a pass that offers unlimited rides for children at the entrance. Facilities at the park include a first aid center, a lost children center and a lost and found center to help visitors in need, locker rooms and disability friendly restrooms.