Kaminarimon

Kaminari-mon, the Thunder Gate, forms the outer entrance to the Buddhist Senso-ji temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district. Today's version dates from 1960 and was donated by industrialist Konosuke Matsushita after the previous gate burnt down in 1865. The structure is famous for its almost four-metre-tall, 700-kilo red paper chochin lantern hanging in the middle of the passage, which is renewed every few years. The gate is flanked by the guardian deities Fujin of the wind and Raijin of thunder, with two dragon-like guardian figures on the rear. From morning till late evening tourists crowd the gate for souvenir photos before continuing along the Nakamise shopping street.