Nishinomiya Shrine Toka Ebisu 2027

Why You Should Visit

Toka Ebisu is the New Year festival at Nishinomiya Shrine, head shrine of all Ebisu shrines in Japan, held every January 9–11. The three days are called Yoi-Ebisu (9th), Hon-Ebisu (10th) and Nokori-Fuku (11th), and draw around one million visitors. The signature event is the Fukuotoko race on the 10th: at 6:00 the main Red Gate opens and worshippers sprint about 230 m to the main hall, with the first three declared the year's "lucky men." Visitors also stick coins on a giant bluefin tuna offered at the worship hall for good fortune, and on the afternoon of the 9th hot-spring water from Arima Onsen is presented to the shrine. Around 500 food stalls line the grounds and nearby streets late into the night.

Programs

Timetable & Map

Essentials

location

Nishinomiya Shrine (Nishinomiya, Hyogo)

period

January 9, 2027 (Sat) - January 11, 2027 (Mon)

Time

Jan 9–11, open around the clock (gates closed Jan 10, 0:00–6:00 for the Igomori rite). Fukuotoko race starts Jan 10 at 6:00

cost

Free to visit (fees apply for lucky bamboo, charms and prayers)

Links

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

About a 5-min walk southwest from the Ebisu exit of Nishinomiya Station on the Hanshin Main Line. Traffic restrictions are in place around the shrine and the shrine car park is closed during the festival, so use public transport

There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Nishinomiya Shrine (Nishinomiya, Hyogo), and 3 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

No reservation needed to visit. For the front blocks of the Fukuotoko race, registration is usually held Jan 9, 22:00–23:30 at the Enmanji temple car park for the first 1,500 people, followed by a lottery at 0:00 on Jan 10 in front of the South Gate that picks 108 runners for Block A and 108 for Block B. Those not drawn can still line up outside the gate and run as general worshippers. The first 5,000 runners receive a free commemorative certificate. Rules change year to year, so check the Nishinomiya Shrine official site for the current year.

NOTE

The three days:

9 Jan: Yoi-Ebisu (eve)
10 Jan: Hon-Ebisu (main day)
11 Jan: Nokori-fuku (last luck)

Stalls:

About 500 stalls in and around the grounds (typical year)
9–11 Jan 9:00–23:00; on the 10th from 6:00

Crowds:

About one million visitors over three days; the 10th is busiest
Lucky bamboo and other charms remain available after the festival, and the shrine encourages spreading visits across days

Afterwards:

15 Jan 10:00: Hosai-sai, a rite of thanks for the festival's safe completion

*Dates and times for 2027 are based on typical years and will be updated once the shrine announces details

FAQ

Can anyone take part in the Fukuotoko race?

Yes. Positions at the very front are decided by lottery: on the night of Jan 9 the first 1,500 people register at the Enmanji temple car park, and at 0:00 on Jan 10 a draw in front of the South Gate picks 108 runners for Block A and 108 for Block B. Anyone not drawn, or not registered, can still wait behind them as a general worshipper and run when the gate opens at 6:00. The rite is run by the shrine's Kaimon Shinji association, and numbers and procedures change by year, so check the official notice for the current year.

Is there a fee to visit?

Visiting is free. Lucky bamboo, rakes and other charms, as well as prayers, are charged.

Can I go by car?

Traffic restrictions are in place around the shrine during the festival and the shrine car park is closed. The shrine is a 5-minute walk from Hanshin Nishinomiya Station, so coming by train is recommended.

When is the best time to avoid crowds?

The 10th (Hon-Ebisu) is the busiest, with the grounds and approach packed from the evening on. Mornings on the 9th and 11th are easier to move around, and since lucky charms remain available after the festival, the shrine also suggests visiting on a later date.

Calendar

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Nishinomiya Shrine Toka Ebisu 2027

Why You Should Visit

Programs

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FAQ

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