Hanazono Jinja`s Shinto Architecture
Stands Out in Shinjuku.

Hanazono Jinja (Hanazono Shrine), is a Shinto Shrine that has Shinto architecture and torii gates in the Inari style.

Now, I dont know about you but whenever I`m traveling in a big city, I sometimes need a place to catch my breath.

Luckily Hanazono can provide just that.

It is located 10 minutes walk North East of Shinjuku station, in an area of relative calm amongst the whirlwind of people, concrete and cars that is Shinjuku.

Although, it can`t even be compared to somewhere like, say, Shinjuku Gyoen, it still makes for a nice, if not short, change of pace.

Watching over the shrine are two stone Inari foxes at the end of a row of torii gates.

Luckily these are zenko foxes, a type that is thought to be kind and are the messengers of Inari, the Shinto goddess of rice.

The shrine of course is dedicated to the godess Inari and the typical vermilion of Shinto architecture which covers the buildings and torii gates, stands in stark contrast to the generally dull grey and brown of the surrounding buildings.

A Rooster, Rakes and a Shinto Festival Make Good Luck

If you are in Shinjuku during Novemeber you might just be lucky enough to check out the Shinto Festival Tori no Ichi.

This fair is held on the day of the Rooster (tori) according to the Chinese Calendar.

Because this day is celebrated every 12 days in November, the festival may actually be on up to three times that month. The down side is that the dates are slightly different each year, so make sure you check with the locals in advance.

Basically it is an open air market. Crowds of people flock (pun intended) to the Tori no Ichi fair to buy Kumade. These are small decorated rakes that are thought to bring good luck and good fortune (naturally) to your household or business.

As with many Japanese festivals or fairs the atmosphere is lively and loud.