Nishinomiya-jinja

Nishinomiya-jinja in Hyogo is one of the most important Ebisu shrines in Japan, visited by millions each year to pray for business success. The main hall sits at the end of a wide stone approach lined with stone lanterns. The shrine's Toka Ebisu festival runs for three days around January 10th, and the centrepiece is the Fukuotoko race, where several hundred men sprint the 230-meter approach to the main hall the moment the gates open at six in the morning. The first three to reach the shrine are honored as lucky men for the year. Outside festival season, the grounds are calm and worth a short stop.