Senso-ji opening hours in short
The grounds of Senso-ji can be entered at any hour, 24 hours a day. The main hall is different. From April to September it is open from 6:00 to 17:00, and from October to March from 6:30 to 17:00. Entry is free. The main hall is open on 365 days a year, with no regular weekly closing day.
That means a visit at night is a walk through the grounds, not a visit inside the hall. Other halls on the site have their own opening and closing times, so ask at the temple if you want to see a specific building. At times of very high visitor numbers, access to the grounds can be restricted.
What is open when
Times for the temple and for places you are likely to pass.
| Place | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grounds | 24 hours | Buildings have their own times |
| Main hall, April to September | 6:00–17:00 | Open on 365 days |
| Main hall, October to March | 6:30–17:00 | Open on 365 days |
| Lighting of hall, pagoda, Hozomon and Kaminarimon | Sunset to about 23:00 | Outdoor lighting only |
| Nakamise-dori shops | Vary by shop | The street is open at night, the shops are not |
| Asakusa Shrine office | 9:00–16:00 on weekdays, 9:00–16:30 on weekends and holidays | Office hours, not a closing time for the area |
| Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, terrace | 9:00–22:00 | 8th floor, free; closures for maintenance are possible |
| Rickshaws near the Kaminarimon | From 9:30 into the evening | Depends on the season |
Asakusa tours and experiences
Walking tours, food tours and rickshaw rides around Senso-ji, with live prices and availability.
Visiting after dark
The grounds stay open, and the buildings are lit.
The lighting
The main hall, the five-story pagoda, the Hozomon and the Kaminarimon are lit every day from sunset until about 23:00. This is exterior lighting. It does not extend the hours of the main hall.
Kaminarimon →The shops
Nakamise-dori can be walked at night, but the shops are closed after their own closing times. The painted shutters are then visible.
Nakamise-dori →A view from above
The free terrace on the 8th floor of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, opposite the Kaminarimon, is open from 9:00 to 22:00. The information desk closes at 20:00.
Getting home late
Check the last train for your line before you go, especially if you plan to stay for the evening lighting.
Getting there →Busy days and events through the year
Regular hours can change on festival days.
New Year (Hatsumode)
The first temple visit of the year runs from 1 to 7 January. The crowds are heaviest from 1 to 3 January, with guided visitor routes and entry controls. Nakamise-dori can serve as a one-way approach. Do not apply the regular hours to the New Year nights.
Sanja Matsuri 2027
The festival is announced for Friday to Sunday, 14–16 May 2027, with the ceremony on Thursday, 13 May at 19:00. On Sunday, 16 May, traffic on Kaminarimon-dori is restricted from 10:00 to 19:00. Check the current program before you go.
Sanja Matsuri →Hozuki-Ichi
Every year on 9 and 10 July, lantern plants are sold on the grounds. Believers hold that a visit on these days counts for 46,000 days of merit.
Hagoita-Ichi
The decorative paddle market takes place every year from 17 to 19 December. 18 December is the last Kannon festival day of the year.
Choosing a time of day
The hall opens early, and early is quieter.
The main hall opens at 6:00 or 6:30, depending on the season, and an early start gives you the temple with fewer people. The Kaminarimon underground garage is often busy from 11:00 to 14:00 on weekends and holidays, which points to the peak hours around the temple. Close to 17:00 the hall is about to close, so arrive earlier if you want to go inside. In the evening the lighting and the quiet shutters give the street a different feel. If you plan more of Tokyo after dark, Shibuya at night has its own guide.
Plan the rest of your visit
What to read next.
Senso-ji opening hours: frequently asked questions
Is Senso-ji open 24 hours?
The grounds are, every day. The main hall is open from 6:00 to 17:00 from April to September and from 6:30 to 17:00 from October to March. Outside those hours you can walk the grounds but not enter the hall.
What time does Senso-ji open?
The main hall opens at 6:00 from April to September and at 6:30 from October to March. The grounds are open at all hours.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. A regular visit is free, and there is no ticket to buy for it. Special openings of areas such as the Denboin garden are separate and paid.
Is Senso-ji closed on any day?
The main hall is open on 365 days a year, with no regular weekly closing day. Short-term limits for ceremonies or safety reasons are possible, so check on the day if your plans depend on it.
Are the Nakamise shops open at night?
No. The street is open, but the shops close at times that vary by shop. After closing, the painted shutters are visible.
When is the temple lit up?
The main hall, the pagoda, the Hozomon and the Kaminarimon are lit every day from sunset until about 23:00.