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Walking from Sensoji Temple to Tokyo SkytreeExploration

Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate with large red lantern in the early morning at Sensoji Temple Tokyo with fewer crowds

The weather was nice today, so I visited Sensoji Temple at 8:00 AM. At this hour, tourists were sparse, and even the popular photo spots allowed everyone to line up and take pictures one group at a time. While few shops were open along Nakamise Shopping Street, the quiet atmosphere was also pleasant.

Nakamise shopping street at Sensoji Temple in the early morning with closed shops and autumn leaves in Tokyo Asakusa — Nakamise Street before opening hours — a quiet side of Asakusa most tourists never experience.

Traditional Japanese illustration display board inside Sensoji Temple grounds showing historical scenes in Asakusa Tokyo — Historical displays inside Sensoji Temple grounds — small details many visitors miss when the area gets crowded.

Seven Lucky Gods display in Asakusa representing Japanese culture and good fortune at Sensoji Temple area — A Seven Lucky Gods display in Asakusa — a glimpse into traditional Japanese beliefs tied to luck and prosperity.

This time is recommended for those who want to take photos leisurely or explore the temple at a relaxed pace. With paintings decorating the approach path, Asakusa Shrine and Nitemmon within the temple grounds, and ceilings featuring paintings like the Ryuunozu(龍之図) and Tenjinnozu(天人之図) , a leisurely stroll allows you to notice details and make various discoveries.

Hozomon Gate at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Tokyo in the early morning with fewer visitors and traditional red architecture — Hozomon Gate at Sensoji Temple around 8 AM — noticeably quieter compared to the busy daytime crowds.

Close-up of Nio guardian statue at Sensoji Temple gate in Asakusa Tokyo protecting the temple entrance — One of the Nio guardian statues at Sensoji — protecting the temple from evil spirits.

Nio guardian statue holding a weapon inside Sensoji Temple gate in Asakusa Tokyo traditional Buddhist protector — The opposing Nio statue, symbolizing strength and protection at the entrance of Sensoji Temple.

Looking to the left and right of the Hōzōmon gate, you will see two statues: one with an open mouth, the A-form, and one with a closed mouth, the Un-form. These are also called the Niō statues (A-Un statues), serving as gatekeepers to prevent enemies of the Buddha from entering from outside. “A” signifies the beginning of things, while “Un” signifies the end of things. There is a Japanese idiom, “A-Un no kokyū” (阿吽の呼吸), which means “perfect harmony between two or more people doing something together,” implying actions naturally align from start to finish.

Main hall of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Tokyo with large red lantern and visitors entering in the morning — The main hall of Sensoji Temple — the heart of Asakusa where visitors come to pray and experience traditional
Japanese culture.

Inside Sensoji Temple main hall showing golden altar and visitors praying in Asakusa Tokyo Japan — Inside the main hall of Sensoji — a rare glimpse into the spiritual side of the temple beyond the busy streets outside.

“This is where visitors quietly pray — a completely different atmosphere from the lively streets outside.”

“Don’t forget to look up — some of the most impressive details at Sensoji are above you.”

Ceiling painting at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa featuring Ryu no Zu dragon and Tenjin no Zu celestial beings traditional Japanese artwork — Ceiling artwork inside Sensoji Temple — the powerful dragon (Ryu no Zu) and celestial figures (Tenjin no Zu) reflecting traditional Japanese Buddhist art.

What You Can Experience on This Walk

Visiting Senso-ji, Tokyo’s most famous temple
Trying omikuji and traditional practices
Exploring old-town streets in Asakusa
Seeing the contrast between traditional and modern Tokyo

Before starting this walk, you may want to learn the basics of Japanese culture, including shrine etiquette and omikuji, in our complete guide.

Japanese Culture Guide: Traditions, Etiquette & Unique Experiences in Japan

After leaving Sensoji Temple, we headed toward Tokyo Skytree

Nitenmon Gate at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Tokyo with autumn leaves and fewer tourists in the morning — Nitenmon Gate — a quieter entrance to Sensoji, perfect for those looking to avoid crowds.

Tokyo Skytree seen from street near Asakusa while walking from Sensoji Temple in the morning — Walking from Sensoji toward Tokyo Skytree — you can already spot the tower rising between the buildings.

Since Tokyo Skytree is already visible from within Sensoji Temple, you won’t get lost walking towards it. Now, leaving Sensoji behind from Nitemmon, I set off towards Tokyo Skytree. Cross the traffic light and walk a short distance to reach Sumida Park. From the park, you can see the Skytree across the river, making this spot another excellent photo location. Although it wasn’t open yet, you can apparently take a water bus from here to Odaiba Seaside Park. Currently, due to aging vessels, the route options seem limited. By summer 2026, it appears they’ll be able to reach other major destinations.

Tokyo Skytree view from Sumida Park with trees along the Sumida River near Asakusa Tokyo — Sumida Park along the way — one of the best spots to enjoy Tokyo Skytree views on foot from Asakusa.

Sumida Park map sign showing directions to Asakusa Station and Kototoi Bridge near Tokyo Skytree — Map of Sumida Park — helpful for navigating between Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree on foot.

Every summer, large-scale fireworks displays are held on the Sumida River, attracting many visitors. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom along the Sumida River, offering a different perspective depending on the season. Leaving the park, we cross Kototoi Bridge. There’s another Sumida Park just beyond Kototoi Bridge, and the view of the Skytree from here is also excellent. Within the park stands Ushijima Shrine.

Ushijima Shrine in Tokyo near Sumida River with torii gate and traditional shrine building close to Tokyo Skytree — Ushijima Shrine — a peaceful shrine just across Kototoi Bridge, a quiet stop on the way from Asakusa to Tokyo Skytree.

The “Nadeushi” (Stroking Cow) statue in the shrine grounds is famous as a healing object for both body and mind. The belief is that stroking the corresponding part of the cow’s body where you feel illness can cure it. In front of the main hall, there is also a very rare triple torii gate (san-no-torii). You can see that an additional torii gate is attached to the left and right of the standard torii. There were a few tourists there too.

Sacred cow statue at Ushijima Shrine in Tokyo known as Nade Ushi for good health and healing — The “Nade Ushi” (sacred cow) — visitors touch it for good health and healing.

“Don’t miss the ‘Nade Ushi’ — people gently touch it for good health.”

Having made quite a detour, I headed towards Tokyo Skytree. Returning to the road after crossing Kototoi Bridge, I walked towards the approaching Tokyo Skytree. There were no turns; just following the road brought the Skytree into view.

Traditional rickshaw being pulled by a guide on a street near Asakusa Tokyo with passenger seat — A traditional rickshaw spotted on the way — a unique way to explore Asakusa and nearby areas.

It was morning, but there were tourists riding rickshaws toward the Tokyo Skytree.

Tokyo Skytree near Tokyo Solamachi shopping complex seen from below in Sumida Tokyo — Almost there — Tokyo Skytree rises right next to Tokyo Solamachi as you approach the final stretch.

I arrived at 9:00 AM, but only the cafes were open. The Tokyo Skytree observation deck and the adjacent aquarium seemed to open at 10:00. The souvenir shops related to Tokyo Skytree were open. Tourists were sparse, but everyone was taking photos at their respective spots. Many people were taking photos from the Tobu Bridge on the south side. Since commercial facilities are adjacent to Tokyo Skytree, you can enjoy food courts and shopping. After seeing the observation deck and aquarium, stopping by might be a good idea. Walking from Sensoji Temple to Tokyo Skytree takes about 20 minutes, and the route is easy to follow, so walking is smoother.

Looking up at Tokyo Skytree from directly below showing its massive structure in Sumida Tokyo Japan — Standing right beneath Tokyo Skytree — the scale feels completely different up close.

Return from Tokyo Skytree to Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple main hall crowded with visitors around 10 AM in Asakusa Tokyo Japan — By 10 AM, Sensoji Temple is already crowded — a completely different atmosphere from the quiet early morning.

Omikuji fortune stalls at Sensoji Temple with people drawing fortunes in Asakusa Tokyo — Visitors lining up for omikuji (fortune slips) — one of the most popular experiences at Sensoji.

After leaving Tokyo Skytree and retracing our steps back to Sensoji Temple, it was completely different from the morning—crowded with people. Seeing so many people drawing omikuji fortune slips, each excitedly reading theirs and discussing their fortunes with friends, made me happy. Regarding omikuji: These fortune slips are considered messages from the gods, and it’s generally customary to draw only once. While drawing multiple times is possible, it’s considered a minor practice within Japanese culture. Whether the result is good or bad, accepting the message from the gods is what truly matters.

Take home the good fortune slips and tie the bad ones to the nearby fortune slip rack. This act symbolizes “tying” your bond with the gods. By tying this bond with the gods, you ask them to guide your affairs in a favorable direction. Whether good or bad, I believe the gods observe your daily conduct, and it is this conduct that determines whether things progress well.

Busy Nakamise shopping street filled with tourists and shops open in Asakusa Tokyo — Nakamise Street in full swing — shops open and the crowd at its peak.

Kaminarimon Gate crowded with tourists in Asakusa Tokyo during late morning — Kaminarimon Gate later in the morning — packed with visitors compared to the early hours.

Traditional cosmetics shop in Asakusa near Nakamise street with Japanese beauty products display in Tokyo — A charming cosmetics shop tucked behind Nakamise — a quieter spot to discover unique Japanese beauty products.

The shops along Nakamise Street were open and bustling with crowds. Sensoji Temple is a popular destination for Japanese student field trips, and many students were visiting, browsing various souvenirs. There are shops not only inside Nakamise but also outside, including some very unique ones, so I recommend exploring. Women’s kanzashi hairpins are beautifully decorated and eye-catching, making them excellent souvenirs. The area in front of aminarimon Gate was overflowing with people, making it quite difficult to take photos. It was 8:00 PM, and by 10:00 PM, I was hungry. I looked around at nearby shops, but few were open; many seemed to open at 11:00 AM. The prices at each shop were also set quite high, which I thought was typical of tourist areas. The atmosphere of any tourist spot changes depending on the time you visit. Some people prefer lively places, while others like quieter spots. Visiting at a time that suits your preference might be a good idea.

Postscript after finishing the exploration

Takeaway tempura from a famous shop near Kaminarimon in Asakusa Tokyo crispy Japanese street food — Freshly made tempura near Kaminarimon — perfect for a quick bite while exploring Asakusa.

Looking back, the pricier shops seemed to target foreign tour groups as their main customers. In Japanese culture, breakfast is typically around 500 yen, and lunch around 1,000 yen. Finding affordable, tasty spots is part of the travel
I tried buying some takeout tempura and ate it later, piled on top of udon noodles as tempura udon—it was delicious. I’ve seen travelers buying tempura to eat while walking around, but the takeout portions are quite substantial. Eating it straight might be too greasy and heavy on the stomach. Japanese cuisine offers an incredible variety, with many dishes delicious on their own and others that shine when paired. Tempura is one such example, pairing exceptionally well with soba or udon noodles. Dishes like tempura rice bowls also feature diverse ingredients, each harmonizing beautifully with rice. For travelers wanting tempura, I recommend eating it at specialty tempura shops, soba restaurants, or udon shops.

Still planning your Tokyo trip?

After walking from Sensoji to Tokyo Skytree, you might realize that small details can make a big difference — like choosing the right route, timing your visit, or finding good local spots.

If you have questions, feel free to ask a local. We’re happy to help.