Photo Spot · Asakusa
Senso-ji Five-Storey Pagoda at Night 夜の浅草寺五重塔
The 53 m five-storey pagoda glows red and gold under floodlights beside the Hozomon gate, a calm, almost empty night scene in the heart of Tokyo's busiest temple.
About
Senso-ji's five-storey pagoda was rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1973 after the original burned in the 1945 air raids, and it stands about 53 m tall on the west side of the forecourt between Hozomon and the main hall. Since 2015 the temple has been lit nightly, and with the crowds gone the forecourt becomes one of Tokyo's best night photo spots: the vermilion pagoda against a dark blue sky, the huge straw sandals hanging on the back of Hozomon, and stone lanterns lining the paths. Shoot from the forecourt's east side for the pagoda next to Hozomon's roofline, or from near the main hall steps looking back. Big events such as Asakusa Culture & Lights add projection mapping in autumn.
Highlights
- 53 m vermilion pagoda floodlit against the night sky
- Hozomon gate and its giant straw sandals in the same frame
- Quiet forecourt after the day crowds leave
- Rows of stone lanterns and the incense burner for foregrounds
- Seasonal projection-mapping events in late autumn
Tips
- Blue hour 20 to 40 minutes after sunset gives the richest sky; after 21:00 it is nearly empty.
- A 16-35 mm fits the full pagoda from the forecourt; shoot slightly upward and correct verticals later.
- Tripods are tolerated at night when the grounds are empty, but keep them small and away from worshippers.
- In 2026, ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS runs 30 October to 3 November with projection mapping from 18:00.
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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