A shrine to worship the “Ebessan,” the god of business in Osaka.
The origin is said to be when Ebessan was worshipped as a guardian deity of the western part of the area during the reign of Empress Suiko when Prince Shotoku built the Shitenno-ji temple. The enshrined deities are Amaterasu Omikami (the Sun Goddess), Kotoshironushi no Mikoto (Ebessan), and the three gods. Ebessan was originally the guardian of fishing, as well as the guardian deity of the “markets” that were held near this coastline where catches from the sea, villages, and fields were traded.
Later, Ebessan became worshipped as a god that bestowed good fortune and was prayed to bring prosperity to business. This was especially prevalent during the Edo period where the Toka-Ebisu Festival was held for three days from the 9th to the 11th of January, in addition to the offering of the Hoekago (blessed treasure basket). Today, the shrine bustles with a crowd of over a million worshippers during the three-day Toka-Ebisu Festival, which is the first festival of the year. Worshippers come here to seek the Fukusasa (lucky bamboo branch) that is tied with a small treasure called the “Kitcho” that is awarded by the shrine.