Last month, I went on a business trip to Tokyo and attended a conference. It was my first visit in five years.

The day after the conference, I had some free time before my flight on Saturday, so I decided to visit Asakusa. It had probably been about 20 years since my last visit. Back then, I simply enjoyed the atmosphere as a tourist, thinking, “Wow, it’s Asakusa! The big lantern!”

This time, however, I noticed something different. I had heard that there are shrines within the temple grounds, so I looked around carefully. I found Asakusa Shrine, and also a small shrine called Mitsumine Shrine near the center of the area.

At first, I felt it was a bit strange to see shrines and a temple in the same place, since they belong to different religions. But later, I learned that in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism have historically been closely connected and often coexist.

I also remembered seeing a monument of Nezumi Kozo carrying a box of gold in the shopping street during my previous visit. He was a famous thief in the Edo period, but was also seen as a kind of folk hero.

This visit made me realize that Asakusa is not only a religious site, but also a place where culture, entertainment, and everyday life have long been blended together. It was a very memorable experience.