Intro
Hello, I’m GOK, the editor of Shinjuku local media “Daily Shinjuku.”
A new year begins with hatsumode for many people in Japan. To help you plan your first shrine visit of the year, this article summarizes recommended shrines in Shinjuku—each known for different kinds of blessings—so you can choose based on what you want for 2025.
6 Recommended Shrines for Hatsumode in Shinjuku (Excerpt)
1) Hanazono Shrine (Shinjuku 5-chome)
Hanazono Shrine sits next to Kabukicho and is in a prime location, just a short walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station. It is known for blessings such as good fortune and success, and attracting prosperity. The grounds also include separate shrines associated with performing arts, good relationships, and harmony in marriage.
Location: Shinjuku 5-17-3
Nearest station: Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Fukutoshin / Marunouchi / Shinjuku lines)
Blessings: good fortune and success, prosperity, business success, marital harmony, performing arts
2) Inari Kio Shrine (Higashi-Shinjuku)
Inari Kio Shrine enshrines a deity described as the “king of oni,” or a god with power comparable to the king of demons. The deity (Kio Gongen) is said to bring blessings related to recovery from illness (including skin-related conditions), as well as household safety and family prosperity.
Location: Kabukicho 2-17-5
Nearest station: Higashi-Shinjuku Station (Fukutoshin / Oedo lines)
Blessings: recovery from illness (including skin conditions), business success, household safety, prosperity of descendants, good fortune, physical well-being, matchmaking
3) Naruko Tenjin Shrine (Nishi-Shinjuku)
Naruko Tenjin Shrine is known for having a Fuji mound (Naruko Fuji) and also offers a Shichifukujin pilgrimage within the shrine grounds. The nighttime view alongside Nishi-Shinjuku’s skyscrapers is described as beautiful, making it a recommended photo spot as well.
Location: Nishi-Shinjuku 8-14-10
Nearest station: Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi Line)
Blessings: academic success, exam success, warding off misfortune
4) Juniso Kumano Shrine (Nishi-Shinjuku)
Located next to Shinjuku Chuo Park, Juniso Kumano Shrine is another recommended option in the Nishi-Shinjuku area. It is also known as a shrine visited by Japan’s women’s national soccer team (Nadeshiko Japan). The Yatagarasu (three-legged crow) is a symbol here and is also used in the crest of Japan’s national soccer teams. The shrine is associated with prayers for victory and success in business.
Location: Nishi-Shinjuku 2-11-2
Nearest stations: Tochomae Station / Nishi-Shinjuku-gochome Station (Oedo Line)
Blessings: business success, rising financial luck, family prosperity, matchmaking, victory luck
5) Suga Shrine (Yotsuya)
Suga Shrine is introduced as a popular shrine in Yotsuya that is well known in connection with the film “Your Name.” Many travelers visit as part of “sacred site” tourism. The shrine is associated with blessings such as good fortune, business success, protection from epidemics, and matchmaking.
Location: Suga-cho 5
Nearest stations: Yotsuya-sanchome Station (Marunouchi Line) / Yotsuya Station
Blessings: good fortune, business success, protection from epidemics, matchmaking
6) Anahachimangu Shrine (Waseda)
In the Waseda area, Anahachimangu Shrine is recommended for hatsumode. It is famous for the “Ichiyo Raifuku” amulet, described as an amulet for financial flow and fortune. The article notes that this shrine is a strong choice for people running a business.
Location: Nishi-Waseda 2-1-11
Nearest station: Waseda Station (Tozai Line)
Blessings: rising financial luck, business success, “mushifuuji” (a traditional protective blessing), financial fortune
Closing
This article introduced selected shrines in Shinjuku that are recommended for hatsumode. Many shops around Shinjuku are open even on January 1, so if you are not traveling back to your hometown, are coming to Shinjuku for New Year’s first-sale shopping, or simply want to start the year nearby, hatsumode in Shinjuku is a good option.
Because each shrine is known for different kinds of blessings, you may want to choose based on what kind of year you want to have in 2025.
Looking for the original article in Japanese?
Click here to view the Japanese version on Daily Shinjuku.
https://daily-shinjuku.tokyo/2023/12/27/shinjuku-hatsu-moude/
