What this is
A real Shinto shrine becomes an anime collaboration venue — Hebikubo Shrine in Shinagawa, which enshrines a white snake deity, hosts this two-day crossover event with visual novel '9-nine- Ruler's Crown', whose white snake motifs make it an unusually fitting pairing. The Evening Festival (August 8) is merchandise-only, while the Main Festival (August 9) expands to include a character exhibition, ring-toss attractions, and food trucks. Exclusive merchandise features newly illustrated characters in yukata and shrine maiden outfits, including Kisaragi Yuina from the 'as:9-nine- ARTEISIA' spinoff.
Who should go
Fans of the 9-nine- visual novel series, particularly those following the Ruler's Crown entry or the ARTEISIA spinoff. The free admission and outdoor shrine setting make it accessible for curious anime tourists too, though the merchandise queue requires a separate ticket.
Good to know
Admission to the event grounds is free, but a separate merchandise admission ticket is required to join the merch sales queue — check the official website for how to obtain this ticket in advance, as it may be distributed digitally. Hebikubo Shrine is a small neighbourhood shrine, so the event area will be compact and can feel crowded during peak hours on the Main Festival day. Cash is strongly recommended for food trucks and any on-site purchases, as small shrine events rarely have card payment infrastructure. The event proceeds in rainy weather, but operations may change if conditions are severe — follow the official website or social media for same-day updates. Foreign visitors should note that official communications are in Japanese, so using a translation app on the event page is advisable.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.