Travelogue Asakusa Sensoji Temple | Hozo Mon (Treasure-House Gate) or Nio Mon (Deva Gate)

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Asakusa Sensoji Temple | Hozo Mon (Treasure-House Gate) or Nio Mon (Deva Gate)
Written by Shirley T   
Monday, 05 April 2010 13:30
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Serving as the gateway into Sensoji - the oldest temple in Tokyo, Hozomon is one of the most spectacular gates of them all.
The south's face, from Nakamise Shopping Street
Chochin or Red paper lantern
Upper level stores the treasures of Sensoji
Translated as 'Treasure-House Gate', Hozomon, the gate is composed of two-story structure. The upper level stores many of Sensoji's treasures includes a copy of the Lotus Sutra and the Issai-kyō, a complete collection of Buddhist scriptures. Whilst the lower level that faces south is occupied by two wooden statues of Nio or Deva Kings, one with 'open mouth style' and the other of 'closed mouth style'. Each sits at far right and far left. With Nio statues were being enshrined, the gate was formerly known as 'Nio Mon' or Deva's Gate.
Open-mouth style Nio-Ou was chiseled by sculptor Nishikido Shinkan in 1964
Closed-mouth style Ni-Ou was chiseled by sculptor Muraoka Kyusaku in 1964, from cypress
The center of Hozomon features three large lanterns. The grand and most prominent lantern that is hanged in the center of the opening is a red chōchin and three black characters display 小舟町 which is the name of Funamachi town. It was donated by the people of Funamachi in 2003 to commemorate the 400th-year-anniversary of Edo period.

Lantern with golden characters
Intricate piece of work
Hozomon was first erected in 942 by Taira no Kimimasa but was burned down. It was then rebuilt by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1649 boasting a dignified appearance of two-storied tower gate. It stood for more than 300 years before being destroyed again during Tokyo air raids in 1945.
A giant pair of O-Waraji or straw sandals
The gate we see today was reconstructed in 1964 by Ohtani Yonetaro with external appearance boasting the architecture of the early Edo Period. With a ferroconcrete gate, the gate tower is 21.7 m high, strecthes a width of
21.1 m and takes a depth of 8.2 m.
The north's face with a pair of O-Waraji
After passing the gate, remember to turn back to enjoy the sight of two huge traditional straw sandals called O-Waraji. Devoted to Sensoji, they were made by 800 people of Murayama City in a month. The huge sandal measures 4.5 m in height and weighs 250 kg. It is believed these straw sandals are the charm against the evil and symboling the power of Nio, thus most people would touch O-Waraji for good sake.
Ancient Japanese straw sandal
Getting there?
Hozomon is sandwiched between Main Hall and Nakamise Shopping Street.
Get off at Asakusa subway station (Ginza Line or Tobu Line), 100 m walk towards west along Kaminari Mon Street.
Opening Hours:    Main hall from 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 from October to March)
Temple grounds: Always open (365 days)
Admission: Free


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