We had a day tour after our cruise and this was the first stop. Very interesting, open to everyone to visit. The emperor’s window of prayer and soul searching in long line of people was a learning experience. Before we exited the complex we stood in awe in front if the hanging 2,500 kg giant straw sandals against evil, made by 800 people, completed in one month.

This is a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. You can’t miss it as you enter from the street. You’ll see many offers for a rickshaw tour of the area surrounding the temple. This is a very popular destination in Tokyo for the tourist and is a solemn temple for the locals. You can experience both when you visit. Legend says that in 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the nearby Sumida River. Later, they put the statue back into the river, but it always returned to them. Sensoji was built for the goddess of Kannon and was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple. The statue has stayed in one place ever since. There is a very long shopping street where you can get all sorts of souvenirs or things to eat. Adjacent to the temple are fortune stalls. For a suggested donation of $100 JPY (about $1 USD) you can consult the oracle and receive answers to your questions.

We visited Senso-ji on New Year's Eve day early in the morning. This helped with the crowds as there weren't very many people there at all. I liked the shops on the walk up to the temple - when they are closed the gates have paintings on them that are very well done. We were able to get some great pictures of the temple, the sky tree, and the pagoda. The buildings are ornately decorated with gold and there are some small gardens on the grounds as well. I would recommend trying to go in the morning when the crown may be smaller.