Japanese New Year "Pilgrimage" for Luck: Touring Kyoto’s Seven Lucky Gods

As New Year’s Eve approaches, grand celebrations are being prepared around the world to welcome the new year. In addition to traditional customs, the Japanese also place great importance on visiting temples to pray for good fortune. Wearing a kimono or new clothes to visit shrines or temples is called "hatsumode" in Japan. Praying to the "Seven Lucky Gods" at the start of the new year is an especially important activity, particularly for those in business or with wishes for the future—touring the Seven Lucky Gods is believed to bring great blessings.

It is said that the Seven Lucky Gods originated in the Kansai region, based on the phrase from the “Ninno Sutra”: “When seven misfortunes are eliminated, seven fortunes arise.” The Seven Lucky Gods are Benzaiten, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Ebisu, Hotei, Jurōjin, and Fukurokuju. Benzaiten is often depicted in blue, Daikokuten in black, Ebisu in red, Hotei in white, Jurōjin in yellow, Fukurokuju in purple, and Bishamonten in green. Benzaiten is commonly enshrined near water, Daikokuten is associated with kitchens and is very popular, Ebisu is worshipped by merchants and those seeking prosperity, Hotei is considered the god of happiness and contentment, Jurōjin is the god of longevity, Fukurokuju is linked to wisdom and longevity, and Bishamonten is the protector of warriors. Therefore, during the New Year period, visiting each of these gods in turn is believed to gather their combined blessings and is an important custom.

Various sets of the Seven Lucky Gods can be found throughout Kyoto, but the most popular is the "Kyoto Seven Lucky Gods" within the city. To visit all seven shrines, you can join the “Kyoto Seven Lucky Gods Tour” offered by the Kyoto Regular Tourist Bus. The seven shrines are: Ebisu Shrine for Ebisu, Myōen-ji Temple for Daikokuten, Tō-ji Temple for Bishamonten, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine for Ebisu, Inari Shrine for Hotei, Sanko Inari Shrine for Jurōjin, and Kōmyō-ji Temple for Fukurokuju. The bus tour takes you through Kyoto’s scenic spots while allowing you to enjoy delicious local cuisine, and you can receive a stamp book to collect stamps from each shrine.

In addition, Fushimi Inari Taisha and Matsunoo Taisha are two well-known shrines for praying for business prosperity. Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of all Inari shrines in Japan, and is especially famous for the thousands of vermilion torii gates that line the mountainside. As you walk through the torii gates and climb the stairs, it feels as if you are one step closer to your wishes, temporarily leaving behind life’s complications and experiencing a sense of clarity. Matsunoo Taisha is also highly renowned as Kyoto’s oldest shrine. The shrine grounds are known for their spring of pure, delicious water, which is believed to produce fine sake—making Matsunoo Taisha the guardian deity for those involved in the sake industry. Upon entering the shrine, you’ll see sake barrels offered by brewers from across Japan, one of the most interesting sights at Matsunoo Taisha.

Kyoto Regular Tourist Bus “Seven Lucky Gods Tour”
Price: 8,200 JPY for adults, 5,200 JPY for children.
Duration: Daily from January 1 to January 31, approximately 7.5 hours per tour.
Website: https://resv.kyototeikikanko.gr.jp/Teikan/Web/Default.aspx

Further Reading: Shikoku Oyama Yama Shrine (Provided by Tripass Scenic Spots)