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Toka Ebisu and Nishinomiya Shrine — Complete Visitor Guide to the Head of All Ebisu Shrines
Nishinomiya Shrine, head of approximately 3,500 Ebisu shrines nationwide, is famous for the Toka Ebisu festival and the Fukuotoko Lucky Man race on January 10. This guide covers the origins of Ebisu worship, the giant tuna offering, lucky bamboo, and everything you need to know for your visit.
武
Author
Taketoki
| Samurai History
Contents
MOKUJI
1
Nishinomiya Shrine as the Head of All Ebisu Shrines
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2
Toka Ebisu Festival Highlights
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3
Visiting the Precinct
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4
Summary and Visiting Tips
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5
FAQ
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The main hall complex of Nishinomiya Shrine — three-bay Kasuga-style buildings designated as an Important Cultural Property
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Nishinomiya Shrine is the head shrine of approximately 3,500 Ebisu shrines across Japan, enshrining Hiruko-no-Okami as the deity of fishing, maritime trade, and commerce. The Toka Ebisu festival held January 9–11 each year attracts over one million worshippers, and the morning Opening Gate Ceremony on January 10 — the Fukuotoko Lucky Man race — is broadcast nationally as one of the most spectacular shrine events in Japan.
Nishinomiya Shrine as the Head of All Ebisu Shrines
The Deity: Hiruko-no-Okami (Ebisu)
The principal deity of Nishinomiya Shrine is Hiruko-no-Okami, a sea deity who drifted ashore and was venerated by fishing communities from ancient times. Later identified as Ebisu, the deity of prosperous commerce and good fortune, the shrine became the head of nationwide Ebisu worship. Amaterasu, Okuninushi, and Susanoo are also co-enshrined.
The main gate of Nishinomiya Shrine — the starting line of the annual Fukuotoko Lucky Man race on January 10
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Toka Ebisu Festival Highlights
The Fukuotoko Lucky Man Race
The centerpiece of the festival is the Fukuotoko ceremony on January 10. At 6 a.m., the main gate opens and approximately 5,000 waiting worshippers sprint 230 meters to the main hall. The first three to arrive are named “Fukuotoko” (lucky men) for the year, a tradition formalized in 1940 though rooted in Edo-period customs.
The giant tuna (Shofuku-Daimaguro) offered at Toka Ebisu — worshippers press coins into the fish to pray for business prosperity
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
The Giant Tuna and Lucky Bamboo
From January 8, a giant tuna approximately 3 m long and 300 kg is offered before the main hall. Worshippers press coins into the fish to pray for prosperity. The “Fukuzasa” lucky bamboo decorated with charms, distributed by young women called Fukumusume, is the festival’s signature offering.
The main hall of Nishinomiya Shrine, enshrining Ebisu-no-Okami, Amaterasu, and Susanoo
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Visiting the Precinct
The Main Gate and Main Hall (Important Cultural Property)
The iconic main gate is the starting line for the Lucky Man race. The main hall uses the distinctive Nishinomiya-zukuri — three shrines side by side in Kasuga style — and is designated an Important Cultural Property. The pre-war original was a National Treasure destroyed in the 1945 air raids; the current structure was rebuilt in 1961.
The precinct of Nishinomiya Shrine, head of all Ebisu shrines, welcoming worshippers throughout the year
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Summary and Visiting Tips
Key Points
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Arrive before 5 a.m. on January 10 to witness the Lucky Man race
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Regular visits: 5 min walk from Hanshin Nishinomiya Station; shrine office open roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
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Principal blessings: business prosperity, fishing/maritime safety, matchmaking
Related Spots
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Nishinomiya Shrine — Head of all Ebisu shrines; venue of Toka Ebisu
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Hirota Shrine — The grand shrine that gave Nishinomiya its name
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Koshikiiwa Shrine — Ancient megalith-worship site; safe childbirth and matchmaking
FAQ
When is Toka Ebisu?
January 9 (Eve), 10 (Main festival and Lucky Man race), and 11 (Remaining blessing day).
Is registration needed for the Lucky Man race?
No registration is required. Gather before the main gate on the morning of January 10 and join the rush when the gate opens at 6 a.m.
Last updated: May 30, 2026
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武
Author
Taketoki（たけとき）
Samurai History
Toku editorial team — samurai history. Insists on primary sources and castle-layout diagrams, walking battlefields from Yoritomo's Izu exile sites to the late-Edo battlegrounds.
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