Here you can buy a paper fortune (omikuji) for 100 yen. Drop 100 yen into the slots by the wooden drawers at either side of the approach to the main hall. Pick up a canister, shake it, and take out a stick, which has a number in kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese writing) on it. Replace the stick and find the corresponding drawer with your number on it. You then take your paper fortune out of the drawer. If it's a bad fortune tie the paper on the nearby rack and leave it there.
Senso-ji perhaps is Tokyo's most sacred Buddhist temple. In 628 c.e. two fishermen found a small gold statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, in the Sumida river. The current temple is dedicated to Kannon. Kannon is a deity who helps with the merciful salvation of those stricken by misfortune.
Buddhism first appeared in Japan in the sixth century c.e. and came to Japan from India (where it was founded) via China and Korea. Buddhism has many movements but perhaps Zen is its quintessential movement in Japan. (There are many sects of Zen.) Buddhism often is viewed as more of a philosophy or "way of life" than a religion because of its emphasis on cosmological beliefs, morality, wisdom, understanding, and awareness of thoughts and actions.
Temple is Buddhist.
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