Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji⛩

I stepped onto the smooth-worn stone stairs in front of the century-old shop "Umeya," and in the distance, the giant red lantern of Kaminarimon Gate swayed gently in the hazy morning light—like a seal from the Edo period, about to be stamped into the memory book of a modern-day traveler like me.

Passing through the gate of the Wind and Thunder Gods, I instinctively touched the base of the Wind God statue on the right. A local elderly lady once told me there’s a hidden nail here that’s said to ward off evil. Just as my fingers met the cool stone surface, a vendor’s cart selling ningyoyaki passed by, and the sweet aroma mingled briefly with the scent of temple incense in the air.

According to legend, in the year 628, fishermen pulled a golden statue of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) from the Sumida River, which became the origin of Sensō-ji. In Japan, this embodies a faith focused on compassion and worldly aid—where people pray for health, safety, and relief from suffering. For me, it’s an incredibly meaningful place; those warm memories still flow gently inside my heart.👪Read more