Sensō-ji

On our first full day in Tokyo we decided to go and see Sensō-ji in the Asakusa area. Navigating the metro was fairly easy and it’s very efficient. Sensō-ji itself is a lovely temple right in the middle of a large metropolitan area. It can be a fairly relaxing place, however it is often quite busy.

On the day we arrived there were large groups of school children. On the approach to the temple is a shopping street selling the usual tourist fare and it was fairly packed with children trying to find good deals to spend their yen. 

 
Off on the side streets you will find a much quieter and more relaxed environment and some smaller shrines.
 
This one called Otanuki-sama which is a kind of Racoon dog. It’s supposed to protect people from fire and theft. If you have small change you can make a donation here and ring the bell.
From here,if you head across the river, you will see the Tokyo skytree as well as this golden colored object which apparently represents a cloud – although other people seem to think it looks like other things!