Home > TOKYO 東京都 > Taito-ku 台東区 > Asakusa Butsudan-dori Buddhist Altar Road 浅草仏壇通り

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Asakusa Butsudan-dori is a road between Tawaramachi Station (Ginza Line) and Ueno Station lined with many shops selling butsudan (household Buddhist altar) and household Shinto altars (kamidana). It is perpendicular to the Kappabashi kitchenware road.
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The butsudan road is about 1 km long lined with about 40 butsudan shops. Buddhist altar craftsmen and shops have been here since the Edo Period, serving temples in Asakusa and Ueno.
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Most of the butsudan household Buddhist altars you see are compact, modern ones that cost much less than the traditional and ornate butsudan.
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Many of the modern butsudan are made in China and Vietnam, squeezing out the traditional Japanese butsudan craftsmen.
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Urban areas like Tokyo typically have small homes so the market is for compact, modern butsudan.
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Certification seal indicating that it is made in Tokyo.
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Rosary, incense, and other Buddhist implements are also sold.
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Notice that the butsudan shops are on the south side of the road so they are shaded from the sun that can damage the butsudan.
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Memorial tablets for the deceased.
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Seated Buddha statues for the altar.
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They also sell bigger items used in temples. Such items are typically bought by a temple member who donates it to the temple in memory of someone.
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Entrance to Kappabashi kitchenware road. The Butsudan-dori road is perpendicular to Kappabashi.
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Shinto altar shop.
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Household Shinto altars are called kamidana. One of the few Shinto altar shops on this road dominated by Buddhist altar shops.
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Household Shinto altar.
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A larger Shinto altar or small shrine.
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This shop sells Shinto portable shrines you see at festivals.
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Mikoshi portable shrines for sale.
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Incense
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Buddha images for smaller butsudan altars.
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Shitaya Shrine is toward the end of the butsudan road. 下谷神社
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