To be honest, I did not know much about the Senso-ji Temple prior to visiting it and my Japanese host and friend felt the temple and the surrounding shopping/eating area would be worth the trip.
Once you are in the neighborhood, it is easy to find - just follow the tourists with their city maps, Japanese-English dictionary and cameras to probably the most famous temples in the whole of Japan. It is not far from the Asakusa metro stop.
Between the outer and inner gates is a strip of shops and eatery stands that, from what my host said, has been around for centuries. The main temple opens up before you along with a very tall pagoda and the ensence burning pot where worshippers bring the smoke to their face. It was an interesting looking practice and since I'm a firm believer in the old axiom - "When in Rome..." - I gave it go myself, hoping I was not offending anyone.
The temple itself is so gaudy, it is impressive. As much as I could with the throngs around me, I tried to lose myself in this old place and groove on what Buddhists get from it.
The shops that line the way between the outer and inner gate are typical tourist shops - traditional Japanese snacks, fans with various Japanese symbols on it and local restaurants. I can't remember the name of the small hole in the wall on the back alley way that sold sushi and noodles.
I normally chastise the "typical" tourist traps but this is one tourist traps that should be visited while in Tokyo.