The first major festival of the year in Kyoto is Toka Ebisu.
Ebisu is one of the seven lucky Gods of Japanese mythology and considered the god of prosperity.
The festival is based around Ebisu’s birthday on the 10th- that’s why the name of the festival Toka (Tenth day) Ebisu.
The festival basically lasts for five days from January 8th until 12th.
During this time thousands of visitors flock to the small shrine to pray for success in their businesses.
We’d like to share the three shrines hold Toka Ebisu in Kyoto.
The Best Known For Toka Ebisu / Kyoto Ebisu Shrine
Kyoto Ebisu Shrine is one of the big three Toka Ebisu Festival.
Many people visit the shrine to buy branches of lucky bamboo grass, called Fukuzasa, and more lucky charms and talismans which they attach to the lucky bamboo grass.
Shrine maiden performs sacred kagura dances in front of a small altar and Maiko give out lucky bamboo grass and lucky mochi.
Schedule
●January 8th,Wed.：Shofuku Festival・・・Less Crowded
10:00 Hoekago Parade；Performers from Toei Kyoto Studio Park visit the shrine dressed in Edo era costumes. They hand out the lucky bamboo grass to local business.
14:00 Yutate Kagura Ritual；A shrine maiden performs a ritual kagura dance before dipping bamboo grass in the boiling water and sprinkling it over the crowd for purification.
14:30 Mochi Making；Mochi will be handed out on 11th.
23:00 Close
●January 9th,Thur.：Ebisu Fesutival Eve・・・Crowded a Little
9:00 Presentation of a Lucky Fish；A lucky fish is dedicated in front of the main hall.
10:00 Hoekago Parade；Performers from Toei Kyoto Studio Park visit the shrine dressed in Edo era costumes. They hand out the lucky bamboo grass to local commercial facility.
14:00 Ritual
＊The gate opens overnight.
●January 10th,Fri.：Toka Ebisu Festival・・・Crowded
11:00~12:00/13:00~14:30 Performers hand out the lucky bamboo grass.
＊The gate opens overnight.
●January 11th,Sat：Rest Fortune Festival・・・Crowded
14:00~16:00 Maiko from Gion hand out the lucky bamboo grass and mochi.
20:00~22:00 Maiko from Miyagawa cho hand out the lucky bamboo grass and mochi.
0:00 Close
●January 12th, Sun.：Final Day Festival・・・Less Crowded
9:00 Open the gate
20:00 Ritual（Private）
22:00 Close
Information
Adress：
Kyoto Ebisu Shrine 125, Komatsu cho, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto,605-0811
Access:
6-minute walk from “Gion Shijo” Sta. on the Keihan line
8-minute walk from “Kawaramachi” Sta. on the Hankyu line
5-minute walk from “Shijo Keihan mae” bus stop on the Kyoto Bus #31,46,201,203,207 at Kyoto Station
The origin of Ebisu ”Ebisu in Gion” Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka shrine in Kyoto will host the Ebisu Festival.
Ebisu in Yasaka is origin of Ebisu in Imamiya which is one of the big three Ebisu festival.
The most eye-catching event is a parade that seven gods riding on the boat floats in the city.
Shrine maiden give out lucky bamboo grass to people in shopping mall during the parade.
Schedule
●January 9th,Thur.：Ebisu Festival Eve・・・Crowded
15:00 Parade；Ebisu Ship floates down the street from shrine to Shijo.
17:00
●January 10th,Fri.：Ebisu Shrine Festival・・・Crowded
10:00~ 17:00 Three Shrine Visiting；The prayers visit three shrines at Yasaka Shrine to get stamps,Kitamuki Ebisu Shrine（Thriving business,Prosperity）・Main Shrine（Purification）・Okuninushi Shrine（Good relationship）
15:00~ Ebisu Shrine Festival；A ritual for thriving business is held.
Information
Adress：
Yasaka Shrine 625, Gion cho Kitagawa, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto,605-0073
Access:
5-minute walk from “Gion Shijo” Sta. on the Keihan line
8-minute walk from “Kawaramachi” Sta. on the Hankyu line
1-minute walk from “Gion” bus stop on the Kyoto Bus #206 at Kyoto Station
Freshers must visit “Promotion Ebisu Festival” Awata Shrine
It takes about 10 minutes walk from Gion area to Awata shrine.
Toka Ebisu of Awata Shrine is called “Promotion Ebisu Festival”.
Same as the other two shrine, shrine give out the lucky bamboo grass and lucky charms and talismans which they attach to the lucky bamboo grass.
The statue of Ebisu is opened to the public during the festival.
The reason why the name of the festival is called “Promotion” is that there is the Promotion Ebisu shrine in the site.
It is the place where Ushiwakamaru (later MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune) made a wish for revival of Minamoto family.
The wish came true thus it is called “Promotion Ebisu” or “Kadode Ebisu” (Holly Departure).
We hope those who starts a new life visit this shrine.
Schedule
●January 9th,Thurs.〜11th Sat. :Promotion Ebisu Festival・・・Crowded a little
10:00~17:00；Sweet hot sake and fortune items are given out.
Information
Adress：
Awata Shrine 1, Awataguchi Kaji cho, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto,605-0051
Access:
7-minute walk from “Higashiyama” or “ Keage” Sta. on the Subway Tozai line
5-minute walk from “Jingumichi” bus stop on the Kyoto Bus #5,100,110 at Kyoto Station
Do you need more information?
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With this application, even if you don’t have Wi-Fi, you can find nearby stores and so on.
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