Hi Everyone,
During our stay in Osaka, we visited the head of the Ebisu shrines of Japan, Nishinomiya Shrine. Holding the biggest Toka Ebisu Festival in Japan, it is the to go place for business men and women within the 3 days of the festival. It is known for good luck with businesses and wealth therefore it is a popular stop for many people.
After getting off the train and passing various stores and food stands, we are finally at the gate of the Shrine. There was clear signage making sure people walked in one direction to eliminate crowds standing around and there was plenty of security to make sure everything was in order. As we walked further in, the crowd got bigger and bigger.
The line to the actual shrine itself was long and everyone took their time to make their wishes. We had our coins ready to make a small donation to the shrine and made our wishes. We also passed through a display with white radish and fish symbolising luck and made our way to the store selling the yearly charms. We bought a small fish fortune-telling display with our yearly recommendation on the paper and also a medium-sized leaf and fish display to take home. Almost everyone bought one of these leaf displays for the offices or home hoping the money gods would give them luck.
I love these festivals but at the same time, the crowds can be overwhelming. You probably be lining up for each thing for most of the time you are there but luckily everything was in order to make it a better experience than we probably see in other countries.
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