Located in Shinjuku, Tokyo is a Shinto shrine which was founded back in the mid-17th century known as Hanazono Jinja (Hanazono Shrine).
What’s interesting about this shrine, considering its one of the more historical shrines in Japan, constructed in the Edo period by the Hanazono family, is that it’s located near the red-light district of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, and a short minute walk from Golden Gai.
Originally, before the Meiji period, a branch temple of a Shingon Buddhism sect was enshrined with Hanazono’s Shinto Shrine and a Buddhist chief priest served as the manager for both.
But during the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the Buddhist object of worship was abolished from Hanazono and returned to being only a Shinto shrine, simply known as the town Inari shrine until it was officially named Hanazono Shrine back in 1965.
While the location was easily accessible, there was some construction being done. So, there were a few things I was unable to see.
The lion sculptures were caast in Bunsei 4 (1821) and were donated to the shrine by Naito Shinjuku parishioners, and the names of those who dedicated them or aided in their placement were carved on the bases of the statues.
The statues themselves are 75 cm tall and the bases are 173 cm. Following a model made by the sculptor Sawaki Kazuma, Murata Seimin 1, a specialist in casting in metal, created this pair of bronze images. The bases, wtih large and elaborate sacred straw festoons carved in relief, were the work of the stonemason Motohashi Kichibe.
The heads of the images were cast in four separate sections: The upper head, face, back of the head, and man. The bodies were divided into three sections: from the torso to the rear legs, the front legs, and the tail. The left and right sides of each of these three sections were cast separately and then joined together to make the complete image.
When lookijng at the area, the land was once light and fertile and suitable for production of bell peppers. The famous Naito bell pepper was grown in Shinjuku areas. Records show that the fields around the shrine towards Okubo were full of matured reddish peppers in the high season during the years of 1830-1844. Squash was also grown abundantly in the area and was known as Naito Squash or Yodobashi Squash.
Overall, if you happen to be in the area, definitely give Hanazono Shrine a visit!
