The first major festival of the year in Kyoto is Toka Ebisu.
\nEbisu is one of the seven lucky Gods of Japanese mythology and considered the god of prosperity.
\nThe festival is based around Ebisu\u2019s birthday on the 10th- that\u2019s why the name of the festival Toka (Tenth day) Ebisu.<\/p>\n
The festival basically lasts for five days from January 8th until 12th.
\nDuring this time thousands of visitors flock to the small shrine to pray for success in their businesses.<\/p>\n
We\u2019d like to share the three shrines hold Toka Ebisu in Kyoto.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20200108-1-300x150.png\")
\nKyoto Ebisu Shrine is one of the big three Toka Ebisu Festival.
\nMany 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.
\nShrine maiden performs sacred kagura dances in front of a small altar and Maiko give out lucky bamboo grass and lucky mochi.<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 8th,Wed.\uff1aShofuku Festival\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbLess Crowded
\n10:00 Hoekago Parade\uff1bPerformers from Toei Kyoto Studio Park visit the shrine dressed in Edo era costumes. They hand out the lucky bamboo grass to local business.<\/p>\n
14:00 Yutate Kagura Ritual\uff1bA shrine maiden performs a ritual kagura dance before dipping bamboo grass in the boiling water and sprinkling it over the crowd for purification.<\/p>\n
14:30 Mochi Making\uff1bMochi will be handed out on 11th.
\n23:00 Close<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 9th,Thur.\uff1aEbisu Fesutival Eve\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbCrowded a Little
\n9:00 Presentation of a Lucky Fish\uff1bA lucky fish is dedicated in front of the main hall.<\/p>\n
10:00 Hoekago Parade\uff1bPerformers from Toei Kyoto Studio Park visit the shrine dressed in Edo era costumes. They hand out the lucky bamboo grass to local commercial facility.<\/p>\n
14:00 Ritual
\n\uff0aThe gate opens overnight.<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 10th,Fri.\uff1aToka Ebisu Festival\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbCrowded
\n11:00~12:00\/13:00~14:30 Performers hand out the lucky bamboo grass.
\n\uff0aThe gate opens overnight.<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 11th,Sat\uff1aRest Fortune Festival\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbCrowded
\n14:00~16:00 Maiko from Gion hand out the lucky bamboo grass and mochi.
\n20:00~22:00 Maiko from Miyagawa cho hand out the lucky bamboo grass and mochi.
\n0:00\u3000Close<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 12th, Sun.\uff1aFinal Day Festival\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbLess Crowded
\n9:00 Open the gate
\n20:00 Ritual\uff08Private\uff09
\n22:00 Close<\/p>\n
Adress\uff1a
\nKyoto Ebisu Shrine 125, Komatsu cho, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto,605-0811
\nAccess:
\n6-minute walk from \u201cGion Shijo\u201d Sta. on the Keihan line
\n8-minute walk from \u201cKawaramachi\u201d Sta. on the Hankyu line
\n5-minute walk from \u201cShijo Keihan mae\u201d bus stop on the Kyoto Bus #31,46,201,203,207 at Kyoto Station<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20200108-2-300x166.png\")
\nYasaka shrine in Kyoto will host the Ebisu Festival.
\nEbisu in Yasaka is origin of Ebisu in Imamiya which is one of the big three Ebisu festival.
\nThe most eye-catching event is a parade that seven gods riding on the boat floats in the city.
\nShrine maiden give out lucky bamboo grass to people in shopping mall during the parade.<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 9th,Thur.\uff1aEbisu Festival Eve\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbCrowded
\n15:00 Parade\uff1bEbisu Ship floates down the street from shrine to Shijo.
\n17:00 <\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 10th,Fri.\uff1aEbisu Shrine Festival\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbCrowded
\n10:00~ 17:00 Three Shrine Visiting\uff1bThe prayers visit three shrines at Yasaka Shrine to get stamps,Kitamuki Ebisu Shrine\uff08Thriving business,Prosperity\uff09\u30fbMain Shrine\uff08Purification\uff09\u30fbOkuninushi Shrine\uff08Good relationship\uff09
\n15:00~ Ebisu Shrine Festival\uff1bA ritual for thriving business is held.<\/p>\n
Adress\uff1a
\nYasaka Shrine 625, Gion cho Kitagawa, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto,605-0073
\nAccess:
\n5-minute walk from \u201cGion Shijo\u201d Sta. on the Keihan line
\n8-minute walk from \u201cKawaramachi\u201d Sta. on the Hankyu line
\n1-minute walk from \u201cGion\u201d bus stop on the Kyoto Bus #206 at Kyoto Station<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20200108-3-300x165.jpeg\")
\nIt takes about 10 minutes walk from Gion area to Awata shrine.
\nToka Ebisu of Awata Shrine is called \u201cPromotion Ebisu Festival\u201d.
\nSame 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.
\nThe statue of Ebisu is opened to the public during the festival.<\/p>\n
The reason why the name of the festival is called \u201cPromotion\u201d is that there is the Promotion Ebisu shrine in the site.
\nIt is the place where Ushiwakamaru (later MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune) made a wish for revival of Minamoto family.
\nThe wish came true thus it is called \u201cPromotion Ebisu\u201d or \u201cKadode Ebisu\u201d (Holly Departure).
\nWe hope those who starts a new life visit this shrine.<\/p>\n
\u25cfJanuary 9th,Thurs.\u301c11th Sat. :Promotion Ebisu Festival\u30fb\u30fb\u30fbCrowded a little
\n10:00~17:00\uff1bSweet hot sake and fortune items are given out.<\/p>\n
Adress\uff1a
\nAwata Shrine 1, Awataguchi Kaji cho, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto,605-0051
\nAccess:
\n7-minute walk from \u201cHigashiyama\u201d or \u201c Keage\u201d Sta. on the Subway Tozai line
\n5-minute walk from \u201cJingumichi\u201d bus stop on the Kyoto Bus #5,100,110 at Kyoto Station<\/p>\n
You should receive such local information of Kyoto by an application “KoI APP”.
\nWith this application, even if you don\u2019t have Wi-Fi, you can find nearby stores and so on.
\nYou can install the application from the following URL.<\/p>\n