In Hakata, the Toka Ebisu Festival marks the beginning of the new year. 

Held over a span of four days from January 8 to January 11, the Toka Ebisu New Year’s Festival promises family prosperity and success in business for the year to follow. 

Located inside Higashi Park at Yoshizuka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City. It is said that the man named Takeuchi found a pair of divine statues of Ebisu and Daikoku at a beach on the way from Kashii shrine and Hakozaki shrine and then founded a shrine dedicated to those gods more than 400 years ago. Naturally, the enshrined gods of the shrine are Kotoshironushino-Okami “Ebisu” and Okuninushino-Okami “Daikoku”. 

This shrine is usually quiet but it becomes busy with many visitors during the New Year festival called “Toka Ebisu”, held from January 8th to 11th. Over a million people visit here and wish for the success in business or family prosperity. About 400 stalls are set up during the festival. All lottery tickets sold here come with a lucky prize. You can hear throughout the shrine the shouting voices that declare the outcomes of lotteries; “Oatari! (lottery win)” and “Suehirogari! (growing prosperity promised)”. Also, on the 9th of January around 3:00 pm, you can see a famous scene of Geisha girls visiting the shrine, which is known as “Kachimairi.” 

✿ Kaihōn Goza (Starting from 8,000 yen per person for the first offering)

Dates: Thursday, January 9, 2025 – Friday, January 10, 2025

The Kaihōn Goza is a ceremonial event to celebrate auspicious beginnings in the New Year.
•    At the haiden (worship hall), participants undergo a purification ritual, followed by prayers.
•    Afterward, participants are served tea and sweets at their seats, followed by a traditional naorai-zen (communal meal shared after a ritual).
•    A fukubiki (lucky draw) is then held, an ancient tradition of this event.
•    Finally, the ceremony concludes with a symbolic Ebisu clap (a rhythmic clap to signify joy and prosperity), prayers for the happiness and prosperity of all participants and their families, and the distribution of lucky bamboo branches.

✿ Lucky Draw (First Offering Fee: 3,000 yen per attempt)

Dates: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 – Saturday, January 11, 2025

The prizes given with the lucky bamboo branches are exclusively auspicious items to ensure good fortune for all participants. On the final day, the prizes tend to run out quickly, so it is recommended to test your luck early.

✿ Lucky Bamboo Branches (Distributed during Kaihōn Goza and the Lucky Draw)

The "lucky bamboo branches" carried by many visitors during and after the Tōka Ebisu pilgrimage are believed to have purifying powers. Their lush, unbroken growth symbolizes prosperity and success in business and family fortunes.
There are no strict rules about the direction in which to place the bamboo, but it is advised to display it in a respectful location.

✿ Hakata Geisha Pilgrimage on Foot

 Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025

Hakata, historically known as Nanotsu, has flourished as a hub for commerce and trade. The Kachi-Mairi (Geisha Pilgrimage on Foot), a traditional event adding glamour to the New Year, takes place on the evening of January 9.
Accompanied by shamisen, flutes, and drums played by the Hakata Nanotsukai group, the procession of elegantly dressed geisha from the Hakata Kenban, adorned with Shimada-style buns and ear-of-rice hairpins, makes its way from the entrance of Higashi Park to the shrine. There, they offer prayers for prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.

Tōka Ebisu New Year Grand Festival Schedule

January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) – First Ebisu

•    Ritual Ceremony: 8:30 AM – Approximately 9:30 AM
•    Lucky Draw: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM (3,000 yen per attempt)
•    Year-Round Prayer Ceremony: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM (3,000 yen)
•    Omamori Distribution Counter: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
•    Tōka Ebisu Dance: Around 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM (Performed by Fujima Ensaisha)
•    Shigin Poetry Performance: Around 1:00 PM at the Kaimonden (Performed by Sensuiryū Gindō Sensuikai)
•    New Year Senryū Poetry Contest: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Held in the second-floor hall)

January 9, 2025 (Thursday) – Eve of Ebisu

•    Ritual Ceremony: 8:30 AM – Approximately 9:00 AM
•    Kaihōn Goza: 10:00 AM – Midnight (8,000 yen per person)
•    Lucky Draw: 9:00 AM – 6:00 AM the following day (3,000 yen per attempt)
•    Year-Round Prayer Ceremony: 9:00 AM – Midnight (3,000 yen)
•    Omamori Distribution Counter: 9:00 AM – 6:00 AM the following day
•    Folk Dance: Around 11:30 AM (Performed by Hakata Folk Dance Association)
•    Kachi-Mairi (Geisha Pilgrimage): Around 3:00 PM

January 10, 2025 (Friday) – Main Festival Day

•    Ritual Ceremony: 8:30 AM – Approximately 9:00 AM
•    Kaihōn Goza: 10:00 AM – Midnight (8,000 yen per person)
•    Lucky Draw: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM the following day (3,000 yen per attempt)
•    Year-Round Prayer Ceremony: 9:00 AM – Midnight (3,000 yen)
•    Omamori Distribution Counter: 6:00 AM – 6:00 AM the following day
(Note: Kaihōn Goza and Lucky Draw may end early if there are a large number of participants.)

January 11, 2025 (Saturday) – Last Ebisu

•    Ritual Ceremony: 8:30 AM – Approximately 9:00 AM
•    Lucky Draw: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (May end earlier if prizes run out)
•    Year-Round Prayer Ceremony: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (3,000 yen)
•    Omamori Distribution Counter: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Please note that the schedule is subject to change.