Hozomon vs Kaminarimon: What’s the Difference? Explained with Photos

Did you know that Sensoji Temple has two major gates that many visitors often confuse?

The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is known as the main entrance of Sensoji and one of the most famous landmarks in Asakusa.
After passing through it and walking along Nakamise Street, you will reach another impressive gate — the Hozomon Gate.

At first glance, both gates look similar with their large red lanterns, but they actually serve very different roles and have unique features.

In this article, I’ll explain how to access each gate and what makes them different, using photos to help you understand them more clearly.

 How to Access Kaminarimon Gate

The Kaminarimon Gate (officially called Furaijinmon) is easiest to reach from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or the Toei Asakusa Line.

You can also access it from the Tobu Line, but if you take the shortest route toward the main hall, you will end up in the middle of Nakamise Street.
This means you’ll be walking against the main flow of visitors heading toward the temple.

I personally use the Tobu Line, so I actually walked through Nakamise Street in the opposite direction to reach Kaminarimon.
This isn’t considered bad manners, but it can feel a bit uncomfortable because of the crowd flow.

If you’re coming from the Tobu Line, I recommend avoiding the narrow shortcut between pharmacies and instead taking a small detour toward the bus terminal area.
This route allows you to approach Sensoji from Kaminarimon smoothly.

How to Access Hozomon Gate

Getting to Hozomon Gate is very simple.

After passing through Kaminarimon, you’ll see Nakamise Street directly ahead.
Just walk straight along the street until you reach the end.

Nakamise Street is about 250 meters long, and even with light shopping and sightseeing, it usually takes less than 10 minutes to reach Hozomon Gate, depending on crowd levels.

The Red Lantern at Kaminarimon

The large red lantern at Kaminarimon is one of the most iconic symbols of Sensoji Temple and a very popular photo spot.

On the front, it displays the characters 「雷門」 (Kaminarimon), while on the back it reads 「風雷神門」 (Furaijinmon).
Both sides make great photo backgrounds.

The gate is named Furaijinmon because the gods of Wind and Thunder are enshrined on either side of the gate.

The Red Lantern at Hozomon Gate

Hozomon Gate also features a large red lantern, but it has a very different atmosphere.

On both sides of the gate stand powerful Nio guardian statues, and on the back side, you’ll find giant straw sandals (waraji) that have been dedicated to the temple.

The lantern here is marked with the characters 「小舟町」, and this gate is also a well-known photo spot.
If you look closely at the back of the lantern, you can even find a dragon carving, adding another layer of detail to discover.

Although Kaminarimon and Hozomon may look similar at first, each gate plays a different role in the Sensoji Temple complex.

Kaminarimon welcomes visitors into Asakusa, while Hozomon stands as a powerful guardian just before the main hall.
By knowing their differences, your visit — and your photos — will feel more meaningful.

Next time you visit Sensoji, take a moment to look beyond the red lanterns.
You might discover details that many people walk past without noticing.