Tōka Ebisu｜十日ゑびす大祭

The first major festival in the new year, Tōka Ebisu is held at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine over a five-day period from January 8^th to the 12^th. The enshrined god, Ebisu, is one of the Seven Lucky Gods and considered the god of fishermen and commerce. The festival is based around Ebisu's birthday on the 10^th – hence the name Tōka (Tenth Day) Ebisu. Though the religious ceremonies are primarily performed before the main hall out of sight from visitors, numerous goings-on occur on the shrine grounds each day as thousands flock to the small Gion area shrine in order to pray for success in their businesses for the coming year.

Locals and tourists alike mingle to pray, purchase lucky charms for the coming year to display in their businesses, and enjoy the tasty festival food from the stalls gathered in the area while Ebisu's song rings out intermittently.

In front of a small altar, a shrine maiden performs sacred kagura dances to bless branches of leafy green bamboo (fukuzasa) for parishioners to receive, and other maidens are quite busy helping people select which lucky amulets they want to attach to the stalk, such as red sea bream, boxes of money, and full rice granaries.

On certain days women in traditional clothing (one day actresses, one day maiko) arrive at the shrine to pass out the lucky bamboo. Depending on what day you participate, you can watch a variety of rituals such as mochi making, a palanquin procession, and the presentation of a lucky fish.

An interesting local quirk at this shrine is that if you watch closely, people who make prayers go around the back of the building afterwards to rap their knuckles against a wooden panel.  It’s said that Ebisu is a bit hard of hearing, so if you want to make sure he heard your wish, give that panel a gentle tap!