Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine [Tokyo]

【Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine summary】

Shinjyuku Juninisou Kumano Jinja is said to have been founded by Kuro Suzuki (1394 – 1428), a merchant and descendant of the Suzuki clan, who served as a priest of Kumano Shrine for generations, by inviting twelve deities, the Junisho Gongen, from his hometown, Kumano Sanzan in Kishu. The shrine has become famous for its blessings for victory, such as the Japanese women’s soccer team (Nadeshiko Japan) winning the World Cup after visiting the shrine.

Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine [Wakayama]

Kumano Nachi Taisya [Wakayama]

The deities enshrined at the shrine are Kushimikenu no Okami (Susanoo no Okami) and Izanami no Okami.

【Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine precincts】

In present-day Nishi-Shinjuku, there is a large waterfall and two ponds, one large and one small, called the Junisha Ponds, which were popular as scenic spots in the Edo period.
In the past, the Twelve Shrine Ponds on the west side of Kumano Shrine were used as irrigation ponds for Kakuhazura Village, and there is a legend that a daughter entered the water and became a giant snake, but they were reclaimed by the Shinjuku subcenter project in 1968.
There was also a waterfall nearby, but it was reclaimed in 1898 for the construction of the Yodobashi water purification plant.
It is unfortunate that there are still names of places around the shrine, such as “Jyunisha-ike no ue” and “Jyunisha-ike no shita” (above and below the Twelve Shrine Pond).

You can enter from the park, but the front of the building is from here. From the street, it is difficult to see the size of the building.

A short walk up from the street, the grounds were surprisingly spacious and beautifully maintained.

【Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine hall of worship】

The ema (votive tablet) depicting the seven actors and the dedication plaque of Shikisanban in the hall of worship are designated as tangible cultural properties by Shinjuku City.

The water bowl by Ota Nanpo next to the hall of worship is also a tangible cultural property.

【Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine GOSHUIN】

Special New Year’s red seal, 1,000 yen

Other traffic safety stickers were based on the yatagarasu (three-legged crow) motif, since this is a Kumano shrine.

【Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine Nearby attractions】

Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building, Nariko Tenjinsha

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku Station [Tokyo]

Naruko Tenjinja Shrine [Tokyo]

【Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine Access】

Manager’s Comments

Although the site of the shrine seems to have been reduced in size due to development, it was a quiet shrine that one would not expect to find in the crowded Shinjuku area. Even though the area has been transformed into one of the tallest skyscrapers in Japan, I felt that the shrine is still believed in by people as a guardian deity of the Shinjuku area. It is somewhat regrettable that it is difficult to enter the shrine from the adjacent Shinjuku Chuo Park. I thought it would be better to renovate the park systematically than to make it a half-assed park with the shrine relegated to the edge, but I guess that’s just an adult thing to do…

Site/Facility Size

 (3)

Richness of Nature

 (3.5)

Ease of access

 (4)

Number of tourists

 (3.5)

Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine

11-2, Nishi-Shinjuku 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan

※駐車場はありません。

About 5 minutes walk from Toei Subway Oedo Line Tochomae Station

About 4 minutes on foot from Nishi-Shinjuku Gochome Station on the Toei Subway Oedo Line

参考

新宿十二社 熊野神社

12so-kumanojinja

関連投稿(Related Posts):

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku Station [Tokyo] Oji Shrine and Otonashi Shinsui Park [Tokyo] Naruko Tenjinja Shrine [Tokyo] Shinjuku Gyoen [Tokyo]