Burning Incense at Senso-ji

This huge cauldron is for burning incense and the people around it are exposing themselves to the perfumed smoke to help gain good luck in their lives. Senso-ji was founded in the year 645 as a Buddhist Temple to the Bodhisattva Kannon long before Tokyo (or Edo) was founded. Although most, if not all, of the buildings were destroyed during the 2nd. World War they have been lovingly re-built to their original designs. They look really ancient and it is hard to believe that they are really only a little over fifty years old.