On the afternoon of August 14, 2025, at around 3 PM, I walked the stone paths of Sensoji Temple once again. Unlike the elegant cherry blossom season of last year, summer’s Sensoji revealed a different kind of lively charm.
At the corner “Tokyo Jinriki” rickshaw shop, staff members stood firmly inside waiting for customers, while tourists flowed back and forth, creating Tokyo’s most authentic daily scene. When the rickshaw pullers greeted their passengers, their bright smiles and energy filled the entire street.
The crowds in front of Kaminarimon almost spilled onto the main road, with the massive red lantern particularly striking under the sunlight—that lantern bearing the characters “Kaminarimon” was so enormous that I estimated four or five people could easily fit inside it.
Passing through Kaminarimon, Nakamise-dori shopping street stretched endlessly with crowds as far as the eye could see. Despite the many tourists, the flow remained smooth, and everyone was immersed in this vibrant atmosphere.
In the main hall area, gentle smoke from burning incense drifted softly through the air, while numerous fortune-telling cylinders stood around, reminding me of the “great fortune” slip I drew here last year. This year, I chose simply to capture these moments through my lens.
The Buddha statues within the temple each had their own character, with Kannon, Tathagata, and Jizo Bodhisattva all radiating solemn and ancient dignity. I was particularly drawn to the miniature waterfall—such an exquisite water feature within the ancient temple grounds. In another spot, I also saw many foreign tourists taking photos in kimono, creating a beautiful scene of East-West cultural fusion.
Before leaving, I wandered into the alleyway shopping district and unexpectedly discovered statues of the “Shiranami Gonin Otoko”! These characters from classic Japanese literature are scattered throughout different corners of the shopping street, as if playing hide-and-seek with visitors. However, it seems one finger of their leader “Nippon Daemon” is broken—doesn’t anyone care about him?
Summer’s Sensoji Temple found perfect balance between liveliness and tranquility, with surprises waiting around every corner.
