Shinjuku Shrines

One day I headed to Shinjuku to do some shopping. I went a different way and came across a very large torii.

In between the large modern buildings of Shinjuku is Hanazono Jinzo, a Shinto Inari shrine.

Impressive komainu or karajishi, as a near by sign calls them, were cast in bronze in 1821.

They were donated to the shrine and in 1984 designated material cultural property by the city.

While the outer torii is concrete colored, there are also Inari red torii along with many lanterns along the walk to the shrine.

The space for the shrine is actually rather extensive for Shinjuku. Vermilion trimmed buildings along with lovely light pink sakura. The name of the shrine, Hanazono, means flower garden.

This shrine has been moved a few times over the years, as many shrines have been. The current site was granted in 1648. Of course the buildings have been rebuilt since then.

The kami enshrined here are Uga no Mitama no Kami, Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, and Ukemochi no Kami.

While the offices for the shrine look rather sedate, the Shaden captures everyone's attention.

Besides kami and sakura, it seems there are crows that one has to watch out for.

Of course there are smaller shrines in the complex. Itoku Inari Shrine, known for a couple of things including this row of torii.

Since it was raining I didn't get a good look around.

That is some security on the chouzubachi. Maybe because of the crows?

The Inari foxes, kitsune, were really adorable with their little kits.

I was trying to keep my camera from getting rained on. Which means I did not take many photos. So here is the shrine with more kitsune. While I noted what was above, I will pass on sharing that here in my blog.

Another large torii on a different walk way.

Along with two more guardian komainu.

I have to say I was a little surprised at how large this was given that it appears hidden among the department stores and office buildings in Shinjuku. In Tokyo, sometimes it's worth turning a corner. You never know what you might find.

Hanging out in Shiba and Hamamatsucho

For the first part of my March trip to Tokyo I stayed at the same hotel I've stayed at a few times before. In Shiba, which is a little area in Minato Ward. During the time I took a few photos seeing what had changed and what was the same. The Poko Bagels place was gone (I mentioned this last year), replaced by a pet groomer. The window had lost the wooden Dachshund dog but gained this little fur baby. There were other cats on other days, usually asleep. 

 The bowl with water plants and tiny minnows was still in front of a place, and so was this tank of fancy gold fish.

And the sakura tree was still there besides this building. I first saw it in 2011, next to the entrance. It's too bad they didn't just plant it by the building. It would look better. But it is still alive and blooming. 

Shiba's gained a sign! Now I have proof. 

Near there is another sign with a bit about the history of Shiba. Basically there were fishing villages here. At some time in the Edo period, tea serving servants for the castle lived in the area. 

There's even an ukiyo-e created by Utagawa Hiroshige, the first. One of Edo's famous sites at the time. 

The Furukawa still flows under the Inner Circular Route. Restaurant boats still moored there. On the right is Shiba, on the left is Hamamatsucho.

Despite all the concrete buildings, there are a few places where one looks up and sees green. 

Back at Sanuki-Kohaku Inari Shrine on the Hamamatsucho side of the river.

Lions and foxes still watching the place. 

Fox ema still being left. Someone left an omamori, a blue charm. Guess it was time to turn it in. 

More ema including the horse ones I mentioned in last year's post. Here's a link in case you are curious. I explained a bit about the shrines here. 

Not the same cat this year. I'm sure this shrine is nice for cats to hang out at.

A few more Inari foxes hanging out at the smaller shrine.

Just a few more random photos. Like this water hydrant manhole cover. The second firefighter looks a little shocked. 

Still a lot of eateries in Hamamatsucho. Being between Shiba where there are a lot of major companies, and Hamamatsucho and Daimon Stations, it makes sense that the dining business has grown there. There's even an Okinawan restaurant complete with red roof tiles over the entrance. I believe the name is Uru no Ya, but I couldn't find a review of the place. I think it is new.

 Me, while I was in Shiba I ate breakfast at the hotel since it was included and dinner was something from local konbini. I found myself eating lunch in different parts of Tokyo while I was out exploring. I did stop at MOS Burger in Hamamatsucho. It's a tradition by now. Sat upstairs this time so I could have a different view.

I had my shrimp burger fix. 

Along with their fries and onion rings. Those onion rings are so good!

Gojoten and Hanazono Shrines in Ueno Park

Since I made the effort to be out in the rainy, icy, snowy weather, I decided I wanted to visit a shrine or two. One was on my list but before I made it there, these red torii caught my attention. 

I'd always wanted to walk through a row of torii like this.  

To have this many meant the shrine here was special to people. 

Red torii also means it's an Inari Okami Shinto shrine.

 And of course, there are foxes.

 This shrine area is interesting because there are a number of pathways and different little shrines hidden away. However the main Inari shrine Haiden is easy to find.

And the fox messengers here are cute. 

 One had a cub, a symbol of fertility while the other had what looked like a large jewel under it's paw. This is a common symbol with Inari, a jewel that grants wishes.

While Hanazono Inari Shrine has been here for some time, the Gojoten Shrine has only been around for about 1900 years or so. It was moved into this location in 1928. This building is the Honden where the Kami are enshrined.  

 The purification Chozuya resembles a lotus flower.

 The Gojoten Haiden, with large stone lanterns and komainu.

A look at one of the komainu. 

A look back with a sakura tree about to burst into bloom. If the weather had not been so bad, I would have spent more time looking around and taking photos. But this was not the end of my visit to Ueno Park.