What Is the Smoke at Sensoji Temple?
I Tried Putting It on My Head (With Video)
この投稿をInstagramで見る
In front of the main hall of Sensoji Temple,
there is a large object that looks a bit like a giant thermos.
It is always releasing a lot of white smoke.
If you see it for the first time,
you might wonder,
“What is this smoke?”
In this article,
I will explain what it is and what it means,
based on my real experience.
What Is the Smoke at Sensoji Temple?
The place where the smoke comes from is called Jokoro,
an incense burner in front of the main hall.
People use it to make wishes
and to pray for good fortune.
The smoke comes from burning incense sticks.
If you look inside,
you can see many incense sticks burning at the same time.
In Japan,
it is believed that putting the smoke on your body
can bring good luck.
For example,
people put the smoke on their head
to wish for wisdom.
Others put it on their body
to pray for good health.
You can buy incense sticks nearby.
They are sold at a place called Jukosho,
located on the left side in front of the main hall.
One bundle costs 200 yen.
I Tried Putting the Smoke on My Head (With Video)
I also tried this experience myself.
Because there are so many incense sticks,
there is a lot of smoke.
As you can see in the video,
the area around the incense burner
is filled with smoke,
and it can be a little hard to see.
The smell is a typical incense smell.
To be honest,
it is not a very pleasant smell.
However,
I felt like I was truly experiencing
a traditional Japanese ritual.
Personally,
I like this atmosphere.
For visitors who want to experience Japanese culture,
this is a very easy and clear experience to try.
Of course,
this is only a cultural belief.
I do not think it will really make me smarter.
Still,
after doing it,
I felt more positive.
About the Ash Used for the Incense
The incense sticks are placed into something called incense ash.
It looks like sand.
The ash helps the incense stand upright
and catches the burned remains.
In Japan,
incense is also used
when people pray for the deceased.
At Sensoji Temple,
the smoke is much stronger
than what many people are used to.
Because of this,
some visitors feel scared.
When I visited,
I saw some foreign visitors
who threw the incense into the burner
instead of placing it into the ash.
This is not something
most Japanese people would strongly criticize.
Many people simply think,
“They were probably scared.”
In fact,
some Japanese people feel happy
that visitors are trying to experience Japanese culture.
Manners and Tips for Using the Incense Smoke at Sensoji
Even if you accidentally throw the incense in,
you will most likely not be scolded.
However,
the proper way is to place it into the ash.
The smoke may surprise you,
but if you stay calm
and take your time,
it is easy to do.
Placing the incense into the ash
is also part of the experience.
Sensoji Temple is crowded
throughout the year.
For this reason,
you should avoid staying in one place for too long.
When I visited on December 17, 2025,
it was not very crowded.
On busy days,
you may need to wait in line.
From buying incense
to placing it
and putting smoke on your body,
about 30 seconds is enough.
This way,
you do not have to worry about people waiting behind you.
Photography is not strictly forbidden.
However,
because of the smoke
and the need to move quickly,
this area is not ideal for taking photos.
Things to Remember
- Place the incense into the ash
- Do not stay too long
- Take photos quickly, if you do
Remembering these three points is enough.
Q&A
Q. Is it okay to breathe in the smoke?
A. Yes, it is not a problem.
However, it is not something you should try to inhale on purpose.
If you breathe in too much, you may start coughing.
Q. Is it rude if I do not try this?
A. No, it is not rude at all.
However, if it is not too crowded,
trying it once can be a nice memory of your visit.
