Asakusa

Asakusa is an area in northeast Tokyo and known as the old downtown. Legend has it that in 628 AD two brothers named Hamanari Hikonuma and Takenari Hikonuma were fishing on the Sumida-gawa river and pulled up a small statue covered in gold of Kannon, the deity of mercy. They took the statue to their master, Naji no Nakamoto, who enshrined it in his house. Later, a temple was built for the statue in Akakusa. The temple is known as Senso-ji temple and it is the oldest Buddhist temple in the region.

To learn more, you can view a slide show of Asakusa with information and pictures.