Asakusa Shrine

Neighbors with different religious traditions

Senso-ji is a Buddhist temple; Asakusa Shrine is a Shinto shrine. The shrine honors three people associated with Senso-ji’s foundation and is affectionately called Sanja-sama, referring respectfully to its three deities. Senso-ji’s main-hall hours do not apply to this shrine’s office or religious-item counters.

Office hours, ema plaques and goshuin stamps

Official office hours are 09:00–16:00 on weekdays and 09:00–16:30 on weekends and public holidays. Use these hours when planning to receive an ema prayer plaque or goshuin, a calligraphic record of worship. One visitor’s experience of no longer finding a previously hung plaque does not establish a clearing or ritual-burning schedule, or how long plaques are retained.

Receiving a goshuin

Asakusa Shrine describes goshuin as proof of worship and asks visitors to worship first. Bow lightly before the torii gate, purify your hands, then offer two bows, two claps and one bow at the shrine building. This differs from joining your palms at Senso-ji’s main hall.

At the counter, state which stamp you want and open your stamp book to the requested page. Remove buttoned covers and inserted bookmarks beforehand, and loosen any fastening cords. Each person may submit one book. Special stamps follow the conditions published for their particular period.

1. Worship at the shrine first.
2. Tell the counter which goshuin you want and present your book open at the page.
3. Remove covers and bookmarks, then collect it as directed.

Walking routes and parking restrictions

Official walking times are seven minutes from Asakusa stations on the Ginza, Toei Asakusa and Tobu lines, and ten minutes from Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station. Parking within the grounds is limited to prayer-service and wedding attendees; ordinary visitors are directed to nearby paid parking. Do not assume you can drive in through Senso-ji’s grounds or the front torii.

Visiting on festival days

Asakusa Shrine is known for Sanja Matsuri, but routes, portable-shrine events and crowd controls during the festival differ from an ordinary day. To see a particular event, check the official festival notice for that year first. Everyday plaque writing and worship do not share the same participation arrangements as festival programs.