Hanazono Shrine Guide

Overview

Hanazono Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It stands between Shinjuku-sanchome, an area full of department stores and restaurants, and Kabukicho, and its grounds are surrounded by buildings.

Admission is free. Anyone can visit and pray, regardless of religion.
According to Hanazono Shrine, it has protected the town of Shinjuku since before the Edo shogunate was established in 1603.
It first stood about 250 meters south of its current site, around where Isetan Shinjuku is today. During the Edo period, it moved to part of the garden of the Owari Domain's residence, a spot where many flowers bloomed. This “hanazono” (flower garden) is said to be the origin of its name.
In 1916, it was renamed “Hanazono Inari Jinja,” and since 1965, “Hanazono Jinja” (Hanazono Shrine) has been its official name. A stone pillar carved with the old name still stands on the grounds.
Every November, during Tori-no-Ichi (Otori-sai), stalls line the grounds and large crowds gather until late at night. The 2026 dates are in the “Highlights” section of this article.

Getting there

Nearest stations

Station	Lines	To Hanazono Shrine
Shinjuku-sanchome Station	Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Fukutoshin Line, Toei Shinjuku Line	Right outside Exit E2
Shinjuku Station	JR, Odakyu Line, Keio Line	7 minutes' walk from the East Exit

If you come by Toei Bus, it is a 3-minute walk from either the Shinjuku-sanchome stop or the Shinjuku Isetan-mae stop.
If you are coming by Tokyo Metro or Toei Subway, you can also use an unlimited-ride subway ticket. For details, see Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48 and 72 hours) | Prices, where to buy it and how to use Tokyo's unlimited subway pass.

Entrances

You can enter the grounds from several directions. Every entrance has a torii (shrine gate).

A stone torii standing between buildings. On the right is a stone pillar carved with “花園神社” (Hanazono Jinja), and trees and stone lanterns can be seen in the back.

This entrance, between buildings, has a stone torii and a stone pillar carved with “花園神社” (Hanazono Jinja, Hanazono Shrine).

Stone steps with a handrail, and a stone torii standing at the top. There is a building wall on the left and trees on the right.

At another entrance, a stone torii stands at the top of a flight of stone steps.

A stone pillar carved with “花園稲荷神社” (Hanazono Inari Jinja). A red torii can be seen on the approach in the back. There are construction scaffolding and traffic cones around it.

The stone pillar at this entrance is carved with the old name, “花園稲荷神社” (Hanazono Inari Jinja). A red torii can be seen in the back. When the photo was taken, there was also construction scaffolding around this entrance.

Opening hours

Shamusho (shrine office) hours

You receive omamori (amulets), omikuji (fortune slips), and similar items at the shamusho, the shrine's office and service window.

The shamusho is open from 9:00 to 20:00, with no closed days.
However, depending on the situation, it may close earlier, at 18:00.

The shamusho seen from the top of the stone steps. The service window is on the ground floor (1F) of the two-story building, and there are people in front of it. There is construction scaffolding on the right.

The photo shows the shamusho building seen from the top of the stone steps. The service window is on the ground floor (1F) of the building.

Hours for entering the grounds

Official information does not state the hours during which you can enter the grounds. If you go while the shamusho is open, you can receive omamori and other items.

Step by step

Passing through the torii

A torii is a gate that marks the entrance to a shrine. People who come to pray bow lightly in front of the torii when they enter and when they leave.

A stone-paved approach between stone lanterns. A red torii stands in the back.

Purifying your hands and mouth with temizu

Before going on to the haiden, you purify your hands and mouth at a water basin called the temizusha. Anyone can do this, regardless of religion.

Wash both hands.
Take water in both hands and rinse your mouth.
Wash both hands once more.

Praying at the haiden

The haiden is at the top of the stone steps at the back of the grounds.

The stone steps leading up to the haiden, and a sign in front of them. The sign says in Japanese and English that sitting or lying down on the steps, eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited. The haiden at the top of the steps is covered with construction scaffolding.

At the bottom of the steps is a sign in Japanese and English. Do not sit, lie down, eat, drink, or smoke on these steps.

The front of the haiden with red pillars. Ropes for ringing the bell hang down, and two people are praying in front. Construction scaffolding covers the top of the roof.

Make a money offering. The amount is up to you.
Bow deeply twice.
Clap your hands twice in front of your chest.
Finally, bow deeply once.

This etiquette is the same at many other shrines. It is also explained in our Meiji Jingu article, Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine) Guide | Access, Hours, Etiquette & Highlights.

Highlights

Map of the grounds

A map of the grounds stands on a signboard beside the shrine buildings. The main places are as follows.

The stone steps and the haiden at the top, seen from the open area of the grounds. The haiden and the building on the right are covered with construction scaffolding. There are stone lanterns and trees in the foreground.

Grand Torii: A large iron torii, built in 1996. On the map of the grounds, it is shown at the entrance on the Meiji-dori Avenue side.
Haiden: The hall where people worship. The current shrine buildings, including the haiden, and the shamusho are made of reinforced concrete and were completed in 1965. Before that, Hanazono Shrine suffered major fires many times and rebuilt its shrine buildings after each one.
Itoku Inari Shrine: A small shrine on the grounds. It is said to have been built around 1928. Red torii offered by worshippers stand in a row.
Geino Asama Shrine: A small shrine on the grounds. It is known for receiving many offerings from people in the entertainment world, such as theater and music.
Karajishi: Bronze lion-dog statues made in 1821. They are a Tangible Cultural Property of Shinjuku City.

Place for returning old talismans, and an old notice board

Two stone pillars in front of a red torii. Both read “古お札古熊手納め所” (place to return old talismans and old kumade).

The place where the stone pillars read “古お札古熊手納め所” (Furu-ofuda Furu-kumade Osamesho: place to return old talismans and old kumade) is where you return ofuda (paper talismans) that have become old. According to Hanazono Shrine’s official website, only ofuda from this shrine can be returned here; items from other shrines or temples cannot. The official website also asks that lucky charms such as kumade be taken to the shamusho. Because the writing on the stone pillars and the official website say different things, if you are not sure where to return an old kumade, ask at the shamusho.

A wooden notice board with a small roof. Under the heading “定” (Sadame, regulations) is text prohibiting riding in by vehicle or on horseback, catching fish or birds, and cutting bamboo or trees, along with the words “昭和十五年二月十一日花園稲荷神社” (February 11, Showa 15 [1940], Hanazono Inari Jinja).

A wooden notice board from the time of the old name, “花園稲荷神社” (Hanazono Inari Jinja), remains on the grounds. Its text prohibits riding into the grounds by vehicle or on horseback, catching fish or birds, and cutting bamboo or trees, and it is dated Showa 15 (1940).

Omikuji and omamori

Omikuji: There are several kinds, including tsutsu-mikuji (¥100), where you draw one stick from a container, and the fox-shaped kitsune-mikuji (¥500).
Kumade amulet (¥800): An omamori in the shape of a kumade (lucky bamboo rake), for wishes such as business prosperity. It is available all year round, not only during Tori-no-Ichi.
Prices are as listed on the official website and may change.

Tori-no-Ichi (Otori-sai) 2026

AI-generated illustration. A row of stalls in a shrine's grounds at night, selling many decorated kumade, with lanterns lit. In the back are a vermilion torii and a shrine building, and tall buildings can be seen beyond them. People appear only as small silhouettes seen from behind.

The picture above is an AI-generated image of Tori-no-Ichi. It differs from the actual grounds of Hanazono Shrine and the way the stalls are arranged.

Tori-no-Ichi (Rooster Day Fair) is a Hanazono Shrine festival held every November. Stalls selling kumade (lucky charms shaped like bamboo rakes, for business prosperity) and food stalls line the grounds and the approach to the shrine.

AI-generated illustration. A bamboo kumade decorated with koban (gold coins), rice bales, a red sea bream, a treasure ship, a crane and a turtle, and pine, bamboo, and plum.

A kumade is a bamboo rake decorated with lucky charms such as koban (gold coins), rice bales, sea bream, and a treasure ship. The picture above is an AI-generated image; the shapes and decorations of the kumade actually sold differ from stall to stall.

In 2026, it takes place on the following 4 days.

Date	Event	Stall hours
November 6 (Fri)	Ichi-no-Tori (first Rooster Day) eve festival	From around 15:00 until 24:00
November 7 (Sat)	Ichi-no-Tori (first Rooster Day) main festival	From around 12:00 until 24:00
November 18 (Wed)	Ni-no-Tori (second Rooster Day) eve festival	From around 15:00 until 24:00
November 19 (Thu)	Ni-no-Tori (second Rooster Day) main festival	From around 12:00 until 24:00

There are about 260 stalls. In the table, “until 24:00” means until the end of that same night, when the date changes at midnight.
During these 4 days, only goshuin (shrine seals) written on paper in advance are available.

Aozora Kotto-ichi (open-air antique market)

An antique market is held on the grounds every Sunday. According to Hanazono Shrine, it runs from sunrise to sunset. However, it is not held on days when the shrine has an event, and it is also not held when it rains.

Good to know

Rules on the grounds

Do not sit, lie down, eat, drink, or smoke on the stone steps leading up to the haiden (according to the sign on site).
Hanazono Shrine is a place of prayer. Please do not talk loudly, and do not get in the way of people who are praying.

Other information

In October 2026, when the photos were taken, there was construction scaffolding on and around the haiden. Official information does not say what the work is or when it will end.
The Tori-no-Ichi dates and hours are based on Hanazono Shrine's 2026 announcement. Please check the official website before you go.
To look up maps and transfers, you need mobile data on your smartphone. For how to choose, see eSIM, SIM Card or Pocket Wi-Fi in Japan: How to Choose | 5 Ways to Get Online Compared, What to Check First, and Airport Pickup.
The two pictures in the Tori-no-Ichi section are AI-generated images. The other images in this article are photos taken in October 2026.

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