Hozomon Gate Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Hozomon Gate. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Asakusa Cultural Walk & Matcha-Making Tour

• Asakusa: 1,400-Year History Exploration

• Tokyo: Asakusa Walking Tour with Japanese Comedian

• Asakusa: 2-Hour History Exploration

• Asakusa History & Culture Walking Tour — Sensoji Temple & Shrines

There’s no cost to visit the Hozomon Gate, but many tours of the Asakusa area are available. Tour prices vary depending on length and inclusions, but expect to pay between ¥5,400 (around US$38) and ¥14,100 (US$98) per person for a half-day walking tour of Asakusa, during which you’ll pass Hozomon Gate. Tours including food or drinks are typically more expensive, starting at around ¥24,600 (US$171) per person.

The 2-story Hozomon Gate marks the entrance to Asakusa’s 7th-century Senso-ji Temple. The original gate was built in the 10th century, but the current structure was rebuilt in the 1960s. Its name means “treasure house gate” and the temple’s most treasured items are kept within it. Two large statues of guardian spirits stand on either side of the gate, and a huge lantern hangs in the middle.

Yes, you’re allowed to take photos at Hozomon Gate—but good luck trying to snap pictures without other people in the way as this is a very busy part of Tokyo. As you move through the Senso-ji Temple complex, be mindful of where you stand to take photos, and who you take photos of, as this is an active site of worship.

Yes, the area around Hozomon Gate is wheelchair accessible—you don’t go into the building, but rather under and around it. The Senso-ji Temple complex in general is wheelchair accessible. If you approach Hozomon Gate from Nakamise-dori, as most visitors do, be aware that the streets can be very crowded, and may be slow to navigate in a wheelchair.

The Asakusa neighborhood and Senso-ji Temple complex host many events and festivals throughout the year. The most significant are the New Year’s Hatsumode festival in January, the Shirasagi-no Mai and Oiran Dochu processions in April, and the Sanja Matsuri in May. The area can get very crowded at these times but visiting provides great insights into local culture.