You&#39;ll&nbsp;catch&nbsp;the&nbsp;smell&nbsp;of&nbsp;incense&nbsp;before&nbsp;you&nbsp;see&nbsp;the&nbsp;temple.&nbsp;We&nbsp;meet&nbsp;just&nbsp;outside&nbsp;Asakusa&nbsp;Station,&nbsp;and&nbsp;within&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;you&#39;re&nbsp;standing&nbsp;under&nbsp;Kaminarimon&#39;s&nbsp;huge&nbsp;red&nbsp;lantern,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Thunder&nbsp;Gate&nbsp;that&nbsp;has&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;visitors&nbsp;to&nbsp;Sensoji&nbsp;for&nbsp;over&nbsp;a&nbsp;thousand&nbsp;years.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;guide&nbsp;lays&nbsp;out&nbsp;the&nbsp;Asakusa&nbsp;story&nbsp;as&nbsp;you&nbsp;go:&nbsp;how&nbsp;it&nbsp;grew&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;fishing&nbsp;village&nbsp;into&nbsp;Tokyo&#39;s&nbsp;old&nbsp;entertainment&nbsp;district.&nbsp;Inside&nbsp;Sensoji,&nbsp;you&#39;ll&nbsp;wave&nbsp;incense&nbsp;smoke&nbsp;over&nbsp;yourself&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;great&nbsp;bronze&nbsp;burner&nbsp;for&nbsp;good&nbsp;health,&nbsp;then&nbsp;climb&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;hall&nbsp;where&nbsp;locals&nbsp;stop&nbsp;to&nbsp;pray&nbsp;on&nbsp;their&nbsp;way&nbsp;to&nbsp;work.&nbsp;Shake&nbsp;a&nbsp;metal&nbsp;cylinder&nbsp;to&nbsp;draw&nbsp;your&nbsp;omikuji&nbsp;fortune,&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;most-shared&nbsp;moments&nbsp;on&nbsp;TikTok&nbsp;and&nbsp;Instagram&nbsp;from&nbsp;Tokyo.&nbsp;If&nbsp;it&#39;s&nbsp;a&nbsp;bad&nbsp;one,&nbsp;your&nbsp;guide&nbsp;will&nbsp;show&nbsp;you&nbsp;where&nbsp;to&nbsp;tie&nbsp;it&nbsp;up&nbsp;and&nbsp;leave&nbsp;the&nbsp;bad&nbsp;luck&nbsp;behind.&nbsp;Next,&nbsp;slip&nbsp;around&nbsp;the&nbsp;side&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;hall&nbsp;to&nbsp;Asakusa&nbsp;Shrine.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;a&nbsp;Shinto&nbsp;shrine&nbsp;built&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;three&nbsp;men&nbsp;linked&nbsp;to&nbsp;Sensoji&#39;s&nbsp;founding&nbsp;legend,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;runs&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;slower&nbsp;pace&nbsp;than&nbsp;the&nbsp;temple&nbsp;next&nbsp;door.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;guide&nbsp;covers&nbsp;the&nbsp;basics&nbsp;of&nbsp;shrine&nbsp;etiquette,&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;bow-bow-clap-clap-bow&nbsp;ritual&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;hand-washing&nbsp;basin,&nbsp;so&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;pay&nbsp;your&nbsp;respects&nbsp;like&nbsp;a&nbsp;local.&nbsp;We&nbsp;finish&nbsp;on&nbsp;Nakamise,&nbsp;the&nbsp;long&nbsp;shopping&nbsp;street&nbsp;leading&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;temple.&nbsp;Stalls&nbsp;here&nbsp;have&nbsp;sold&nbsp;snacks&nbsp;and&nbsp;souvenirs&nbsp;to&nbsp;temple&nbsp;visitors&nbsp;for&nbsp;about&nbsp;300&nbsp;years.&nbsp;Pick&nbsp;up&nbsp;hot&nbsp;ningyo-yaki&nbsp;(little&nbsp;sponge&nbsp;cakes&nbsp;filled&nbsp;with&nbsp;red&nbsp;bean),&nbsp;crispy&nbsp;age-manju&nbsp;or&nbsp;a&nbsp;folding&nbsp;fan&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;home,&nbsp;and&nbsp;ask&nbsp;your&nbsp;guide&nbsp;which&nbsp;stalls&nbsp;the&nbsp;locals&nbsp;actually&nbsp;queue&nbsp;for.&nbsp;The&nbsp;tour&nbsp;ends&nbsp;here&nbsp;at&nbsp;noon,&nbsp;right&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;middle&nbsp;of&nbsp;Asakusa,&nbsp;so&nbsp;you&#39;re&nbsp;free&nbsp;to&nbsp;stay&nbsp;for&nbsp;lunch&nbsp;or&nbsp;head&nbsp;off&nbsp;on&nbsp;your&nbsp;own.&nbsp;

Japan

Asakusa Guided Walking Tour with Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa Shrine & Nakamise Street

Discover Tokyo’s cultural side on a guided Asakusa walking tour. Visit Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Street, and Tokyo Skytree in just 3 hours.