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Hanazono Shrine's Secret?
fwiw theres a pretty niche ritual called "sasara" that happens at Hanazono. its a form of purification where they shake a bamboo stick with paper streamers over you, but unlike the standard harae at most shrines, theres a specific version here where you whisper your intention to the paper before they do it. the shrine maidens know about it but wont offer unless you ask. also, theres a small stone frog hidden behind the main hall near the old plum tree. locals rub its head before exams or job interviews, not for luck but specifically to "wake up" their own focus. nobody talks about it, its just something the regulars do.
You've hit on something a lot of people miss. Hanazono Shrine has a specific connection to the entertainment and theater district of Shinjuku, so one lesser-known tradition is the "kagura" performances that happen on certain festival days. They aren't big shows, just local shrine maidens doing sacred dances in the main hall, and you can often just walk right up and watch if you're there at the right time. Also, the frogs are a big deal there. You'll see little frog statues and charms everywhere, because "kaeru" means both "frog" and "to return," so people come to pray for safe returns from trips or for things to return to normal after a rough patch. It's a quiet, personal kind of ritual that doesn't get much attention.
The frog connection is real, but there's another layer. Hanazono Shrine is also the site of the annual Tori no Ichi festival in November, where you can buy decorated bamboo rakes called kumade. Locals believe these rakes "rake in" good fortune for the coming year, and the smaller ones are often personalized with lucky charms right there at the shrine. It's a huge deal for small business owners in Shinjuku, so if you're there during that time you'll see a completely different energy from the peaceful weekday vibe you experienced.
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Is Foodland in Tokyo worth a stop for groceries in 2026?
foodland is basically a discount grocer so don't expect a full meal setup, but the prepared bento and onigiri near the register are cheap and fine for a quick lunch. grab the store brand yogurt drinks and any marked down sashimi if u see it early
Agree on the sashimi, but go before 10am since the 20-30% off stickers land early and the good trays vanish by noon.
Weekday mornings beat weekends, shelf gets wiped by 9.
Yogurt drinks go fast on weekends.
Their hot deli case, cheap and filling.
Check the meat counter, 50% off after 7pm.
store brand milk & tofu, cheapest in the neighborhood
honestly the onigiri are fine but the real move is the frozen gyoza, cheap and decent. dunno why nobody mentions it. maybe google the rest.
the fried chicken counter, way back by the deli
karaage there is solid but ask them to re-fry it if it's been sitting, way better hot