Before You Go to Senso-ji (Asakusa)

Short answer: the Main Hall is open 6:00–17:00, opening at 6:30 from October to March; Asakusa Station is 5 minutes' walk. It is an active temple with about 30 million worshippers a year, so expect crowds.

Hours (official)

• Main Hall: 6:00–17:00; October–March opens 6:30. For other halls, the temple says to ask (tel. 03-3842-0181, 9:00–16:30, not Sundays/holidays).
• Tickets: the official site describes no admission ticket or reservation.

What trips people up

• It is a place of worship: the temple's English site explains how to pray at the Main Hall (hands together, "Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu"). The principal image is never shown.
• Denboin garden is closed to the public.
• Events in the season (official): Shichi-go-san prayers around Nov 15; Tendai-e services Nov 23–24 in the Main Hall; Hagoita (battledore) market Dec 17–19; Hatsumode (New Year visits) Jan 1–7 — expect heavy crowds.
• Goshuin (temple stamp): available at Yogodo Hall (official site).

Getting there (GO TOKYO)

• Asakusa Station — Tobu Line, Ginza Line, Tsukuba Express: 5 min on foot. Toei Asakusa Line: Exit A4, 5 min.

Not confirmed by an official source, so left out: night light-up hours, quiet times, cash-only stalls on Nakamise, photo rules inside halls, lockers. Follow signs on site.

Places: All "before you go" guides · Fushimi Inari · Chureito Pagoda (Mt Fuji view) · Ghibli Museum · teamLab · Shibuya Sky · Senso-ji · Nara deer · Arashiyama · Miyajima · Disney & USJ · Kyoto autumn light-ups