Asakusa, Taito, Japan
Asakusa is a district in Taito, Tokyo, Japan. It is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi, which literally means "low city," referring to the low elevation of this old part of Tokyo, on the banks of the Sumida River. As the name suggests, the area has a more traditional Japanese atmosphere than some other neighborhoods in Tokyo. Asakusa is famous for the Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals, such as the Sanja Matsuri. Kaminarimon is the first of two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple. First built more than 1000 years ago, it is the symbol of Asakusa. The Nakamise shopping street leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds. There is also the Asakusa Shrine, also k