Hanazono Shrine Grand Festival (Reitaisai)
May 22–25, 2026 ｜ 2026年5月22日（金）～25日（月）
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Date / 日付
May 22–25, 2026
2026年5月22日（金）～25日（月）
Location / 会場
Hanazono Shrine
花園神社
Price / 料金
Free
Time / 時間
18:00–21:00 (Yoi-miya (Eve Festival, May 22))
10:00–21:00 (Taisai-shiki & town mikoshi (May 23))
12:00–20:00 (Shinkō-sai main mikoshi parade (May 24))
10:00–15:00 (Goen-sai (Closing, May 25))
About This Event / イベントについて
The Hanazono Shrine Reitaisai (Grand Festival) is the biggest event on Shinjuku's festival calendar, spanning four days in late May. As the tutelary shrine (総鎮守) of Shinjuku, Hanazono draws the entire district into a celebration that blends solemn Shinto ritual with a raucous street carnival.
The schedule unfolds in stages: Yoi-miya-sai (the eve festival on May 22) opens the celebration with lanterns and stalls; Taisai-shiki on May 23 is the formal Shinto ceremony followed by the town-association mikoshi processions; Shinkō-sai on May 24 is the climax — the shrine's main Raiden mikoshi (portable shrine sacred to Raijin, the thunder god) is carried through the streets of Kabukicho and the surrounding neighborhood. 2026 is an "Omote" year (表の年), meaning two mikoshi parade on the main day. Goen-sai on May 25 quietly closes the festival.
The streets surrounding the shrine fill with yatai food stalls — yakisoba, takoyaki, grilled corn, candy apples — while taiko drumming and lion dance (shishi-mai) performances echo through the night. The contrast between the centuries-old shrine rituals and the neon-lit streets of Kabukicho makes this one of Tokyo's most atmospheric festival experiences.
Highlights / 見どころ
Schedule & Venues / スケジュール・会場
May 22 – May 25, 2026
18:00
– 21:00
Yoi-miya (Eve Festival, May 22)/ 宵宮祭（5月22日）
Hanazono Shrine grounds(花園神社境内)
10:00
– 21:00
Taisai-shiki & town mikoshi (May 23)/ 大祭式・各町会神輿渡御（5月23日）
Hanazono Shrine & town associations(花園神社・各町会)
12:00
– 20:00
Shinkō-sai main mikoshi parade (May 24)/ 神幸祭・本社雷電神輿渡御（5月24日）
Streets of Kabukicho & Shinjuku(歌舞伎町・新宿の街)
10:00
– 15:00
Goen-sai (Closing, May 25)/ 後宴祭（5月25日）
Hanazono Shrine(花園神社)
Tips / アドバイス
The main mikoshi parade (Shinkō-sai) on May 24 is the highlight — stake out a spot along the Kabukicho route early.
5月24日の神幸祭（みこし渡御）がハイライト。歌舞伎町のルート沿いに早めに場所取りをしましょう。
Each day has a different character: eve festival (lively), formal ceremony (solemn), mikoshi (spectacle), closing (quiet).
毎日雰囲気が違います。宵宮（賑やか）→大祭式（厳か）→神幸祭（壮観）→後宴祭（静か）。
Bring cash for yatai food stalls — most are cash only.
屋台の買い物は現金が基本。現金をご用意ください。
Gallery / ギャラリー
