Kyoto Ebisu Jinja Shrine Toka Ebisu 京都ゑびす神社
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Way to Kyoto Ebisu Shrine during Toka Ebisu as seen from Shijo.
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Food stalls crowd the path to shrine.
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Originally established in 1202, Kyoto Ebisu Shrine is one of Japan's three major Ebisu shrines, besides Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka and Nishinomiya Shrine.
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Toka Ebisu decorations.
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Torii and entrance to Kyoto Ebisu Shrine.
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Shrine ahead
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People line up and inch their way to the shrine to offer prayers.
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Kyoto Ebisu Shrine on its busiest day of the year.
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As people ring the bell and pray for prosperity amid the current recession, the shrine rakes in the money on its most important day of the year, Jan. 10.
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Praying at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine.
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Big tuna fish
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Big tuna fish as an offering.
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Shrine offerings
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Last year's Toka Ebisu decorations are brought to the shrine and trashed.
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Last year's Toka Ebisu decorations are brought to the shrine and trashed.
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People line up for bamboo branches.
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An actress dressed almost like a geisha is on hand to give bamboo branches paid for by worshippers. Notice the shrine maiden dancing in the back to bless the branches.
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Bamboo branch given by an actress. I wondered why the shrine does not hire a real geisha/geiko or maiko to hand out the bamboo branches. (Geisha district Miyagawa-cho is right around the corner.)
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Shrine maidens happily sell and attach lucky decorations on the branches.
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Shrine maidens happily sell and attach lucky decorations on the branches.
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Shrine maidens happily sell and attach lucky decorations on the branches.
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Shrine maiden selling Ebisu souvenirs.
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Ebisu amulets.
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Shrine ema tablets.
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Omikuji fortune paper strips.
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On the way out, knock on this wall for prosperity.
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On the way out, knock on this wall for prosperity.
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