Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate): The Giant Red Lantern of Edo
Why is it significant?
Stand right here on the bustling sidewalk of Asakusa and gaze up at the towering red wooden entrance of Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate.
Key Facts
| Place | Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate): The Giant Red Lantern of Edo |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032 |
| Geo Coordinates | 35.71110, 139.79630 |
| Audio Duration | ~1 min |
| Part of Walk | Old Edo to Tokyo: Asakusa's Senso-ji, Red Lanterns, and Ueno's Shrines |
| Generated | Generated |
Stand right here on the bustling sidewalk of Asakusa and gaze up at the towering red wooden entrance of Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate. Suspended right beneath the center of the wooden archway hangs a colossal crimson paper lantern nearly four meters tall, weighing seven hundred kilograms, painted with the bold black brush calligraphy for Thunder Gate. Look closely at the statues flanking the arch: on the left stands Raijin, the fierce god of thunder, clutching drums, and on the right stands Fujin, the god of wind, holding a billowing wind sack. Together, they have guarded the temple from fire and storms since nine hundred and forty-two AD. Look up at the base of the giant lantern: carved into the wooden bottom is an intricate, swirling relief of a coiled dragon. The lantern itself is replaced every ten years, handcrafted in Kyoto with bamboo harvested from the mountains and paper made by traditional masters, sponsored by Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita out of gratitude for curing his chronic illness. Step through the gate into the vibrant stone walkway of Nakamise-dori.