Hozomon gate

The Hozomon Gate, meaning “Treasure-House Gate”, was originally built in 942 to guard the sacred grounds of Senso-ji Temple. It has went through a lot over time—first burnt to the ground in 1631, it was rebuilt by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun during the Edo period. More recently, it was destroyed again during the bombings of 1945, before being reconstructed two decades later to preserve this invaluable heritage. Adorned with two imposing statues of Nio, the guardian deities of Buddha, this gate is absolutely monumental—standing nearly 23 meters tall, 21 meters wide, and 8 meters deep. This gate is impossible to miss when arriving at the temple, and that was the objective when it was constructed at the time. Other than marking the entrance to a sacred space, it was also built to protect the temple from invasions as well as display how powerful the rulers of Japan really were. The large red lantern hanging in the center was added in 2003 as a way to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Edo period. On either side, you’ll notice a pair of toro lanterns, traditionally made from heavy materials like bronze, stone, or iron. Today, the gate keeps some of Senso-ji’s greatest treasures, such as sacred Buddhist scriptures from the 14th century, known as sutras. These texts of immense spiritual and historical importance are considered national treasures in Japan. Impressive in size and rich in meaning, Hozomon Gate is a powerful symbol of Japan’s Buddhist legacy—and a living witness to the cultural and religious importance of this sacred site.