Japan
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The Asakusa Kannon Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo. According to legend, one day in the 7th century, two local fishermen discovered a statue of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy in their nets. The first temple is said to have been built on this site to house this statue. Since then the temple has been rebuilt and made bigger many times. It is believed that the original statue of Kannon found by the fishermen is buried beneath the gold plated shrine which is behind the main altar in the Main Hall.
The Kaminarimon - the Gate of the God of Thunder- with its huge red lantern, is the main entrance to the temple. The Japanese believe that the gate separates the everyday world from the divine world.
At the end of the street, a smaller gateway opens to a five-story pagoda and the Main Hall. Nearby is a fountain with many ladles. People cleanse their hands and rinse their mouths before entering the temple. This washes away any impurities.
Next to the fountain is a bronze incense burner. Worshipers wave smoke over their bodies to heal or prevent illness.
People climb the steps to offer prayers to Kannon, Goddess of Mercy.
Near the shrine is a trough where people toss coins. On the trough is a container of sticks marked with numbers. After depositing a coin, worshippers shake the container and pull out a stick. The number directs the person to a drawer containing fortunes. Bad fortunes are "hung up" so that the bad luck can be blown away.
A walkway, called Nakamise, runs from the Senso-ji Temple to Kaminarimon, its southern gate, is lined on both sides with little shops and restaurants.
