Hanazono Jinja

A shinto shrine that had been worshiped as the central shrine of Naito Shinjuku even before Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo Shogunate, as Shinjuku thrived as a lodging station. It was about 250 meters south of the current location between 1624 and 1644, but moved to a section of the flowering garden of the suburban residence of the Owari feudal lord in Edo, when the name was changed to Hanazono (flower garden) Inari (a fox deity). Geino Asama-jinja Shrine, one of the sub shrines on the premises, is known as the deity of entertainment. This is because the shrine put on shows, theatrical plays, and dances on a stage built on the grounds to finance its reconstruction after fires in 1780 and 1811. The Tori-no-Ichi fair, held on the days of the rooster in November to commemorate the death of Prince Yamato Takeru (a legendary prince) attracts approximately 600,000 people every year visiting to buy kumade rakes for thriving business and to attend the various amusement booths which are the famous spots at the Hanazono-jinja Shrine. It is a short walk from the E2 Exit of Shinjuku Sanchome Station on Tokyo Metro Marunouchi and Fukutoshin Lines.