In the past, people were bringing straw sandals (waraji) as offerings to temples, hoping to have healthy feet and to receive travel protection. Even if today people don’t use waraji anymore (only some monks are still using them), the custom still exists.
In 1941, the citizens of the Muroyama town donated to the Senso-ji Temple a pair of giant waraji - O-waraji, but these were burned, together with the temple, during the WWII air raids in 1945.
The pair displayed today on the Hozomon Gate, 4.5 meters in height and weighting 400 kilograms, was donated in 1998.
The O-waraji are also charm against evils, because they are a symbol of the power of Nio, the gate guardians. Also, many people touch the O-Waraji, wishing for being good walkers.
