Mar. 07, 2022 UPDATE
Toka Ebisu Festival
- 十日ゑびす大祭 -Traveler Friendly
It is held in Gion area for 4 days.
Information
Japanese only
Languages spoken
Japanese only
PeriodJanuary 8th - 12th, every year
VenueEbisu Shrine
Story & Recommendation
The Main Event of Ebisu Festival is Full of Rituals in Historical Gion Area Every January
Ebisu Festival is a five day event which runs from the 8th of January to the 12th in Gion district of Kyoto. A shrine is open from very early morning to midnight during the event, and besides, it is open all night long on 9th and 10th. Main event being on the 10th, is called Toka (meaning 10th day) Ebisu Festival. Event will start at 11am. Starting Event on the 10th is preformed by an actress awarding bamboo leafs. Ebisu is a god of business, that's why a lot of merchants will be coming to pray for next year's success of their businesses. Usually Ebisu is called, EBISSAN, a friendly nickname that many people are familiar with. There are more festivities such as rice cake making, ritual that maiko girl gives bamboo grass with luck, and also Hoekago shrine visiting. Actresses at TOEI Kyoto Studio Park pay homage at a shine on a palanquin.
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https://sharing-kyoto.com/Blog/b_toka-ebisu
1Highlight
Kagura Odori
Kagura Dance is a ritual dance performed throughout the festival in order to bless the branches of bamboo grass called Fuku-zasa purchased by visitors at left side of the main hall. You can purchase this any time during 9 am to 11 pm for 3,000 yen each.
2Highlight
Yatai
A part of most festivals many people look for is the food stalls. Most people agree that just going around looking at the variety of offerings from the food stalls excite them. These moments most likely will become a part of your unforgettable memories.
3Let's join!
Omairi
If you have experienced praying at shrines, you must be familiar with this procedure. Notice at Ebisu shrines, there is a wooden board by the altar for people to knock on after their prayers because it is believed that Ebisu, the god of good fortune and prosperity, have difficulty hearing.
4Let's join!
Mochi making ceremony
Shofuku festival on January 8th has rice cake making ceremony from pm2:30. Shinto priest pounds cakes and female attendants roll them into a ball immediately. Those mochi cakes are devoted to Shinto gods. If you buy bamboo grass with luck on 11th of Nokori-fukusai festival, you can get some made on 8th as lucky mochi!
- Manner & Tips -
Please tap the board gently, knocking it harder doesn’t mean your wishes will be heard better. There is a bell attached to a rope by the altar, however, it is removed for safety reasons during the festival.
