Sep 30, 2014 - 1 min read

Hanazono-jinja, Shinjuku

A peaceful shrine in the middle of the busy city

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

Colourful prayer plaques by the main hall

A corridor of torii gates lead to a side shrine

The walk from Yasukuni-dori to the shrine grounds

The main hall stands out from the office blocks around it

A close-up of another of the side shrines

If you want to escape the relentless bustle and noise around the streets to the north-east of Shinjuku station, there's a place you can go to get away from it. Just off Yasukuni-dori across the road from Isetan main mens' store, a few minutes from the JR station or Shinjuku-sanchome subway station, Hanazono-jinja is a venerable, restful shinto shrine, well insulated from the noise of the nearby streets. You can admire the main hall, a lavishly decorated door to a side building, or a couple of smaller side shrines with interesting statues and carvings. It's all very different from the offices and shops that are just a minute away!

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By Peter Sidell

Community writer

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Anonymous 10 years ago

Hi, that is nice to see a peaceful escape route in such a busy place. I just finished reading Murakami's new book which talks about Shinjuku station. Apparently it is the busiest station in the world! I would love to visit, but I am sure if you lived there you would need to escape the noise like you said from time to time!

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