Shichifukujin (the Seven Lucky Gods) faith is said to have originated in Kyoto in the Muromachi Period (14th century ~16th century) and have gradually spread to all over Japan.
Visiting the Shichifukujin shrine is called “ Shichifukujinmeguri “. There are various shichifukujinmeguri in Japan, but the Kyoto one is the oldest. Now, let me show you Kyoto Miyako Shichifukujinmeguri . Let‘s check it out !
Contents
About Miyako Shichifukujinmeguri
Refer to this site: http://www.kyotonikanpai.com/purpose/temple_shrine/jisha_meguri/miyako_shichifukujin.shtml
Miyako Shichifukujinmeguri is the event to visit each shrine of seven gods one by one and pray for good fortune. It is said that you’ll get great blessing if you go around in January.
The regular sightseeing buses of Shichifukujinmeguri are operated from Jan.1 to Jan.31. Miyako Shichifukujinmeguri is long in moving distance, so I recommend you to take the regular sightseeing buses for the person who want to turn around efficiently. Of course, it’s all right to go around by yourself.
Ebisu Shrine (Ebisu)
Refer to this site: http://www.geocities.jp/mimatyu2000/2011/11-2kyoutoebisu/11-1ebisu.html
Ebisu is famous for the god of business prosperity, bumper harvest, etc.. It is said that Ebisu is the only one god whose origins are Japanese. On Jan.10 every year, Tohka Ebisu festival is held and the merchants all over Japan come to visit this shrine.
【Ebisu Shrine】
(address) 125,Komatsucho, Yamato Oujidori Shijo-sagaru, Higashiyamaku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
(access) 6minutes walk from Keihan Dentetsu Gion Shijo station
(URL) http://www.kyoto-ebisu.jp/
Matsugasaki Daikokuten/Myoenji (Daikokuten)
Refer to this site: http://matugasaki-daikokuten.net/
Daikokuten is the incarnation of Hinduism Shiva God, and is also a syncretism with the ancient Japanese Okuninushi-no-mikoto. There said to be a benefit of bumper harvest, tender nurture of children, career success, business prosperity.
【Matsugasaki Daikokuten/Myoenji (Daikokuten)】
(address) 31, Matsugasaki Higashimachi, Sakyoku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
(access) 10minutes walk from Eizan Densha Shugakuin station
(URL) http://matugasaki-daikokuten.net/
Touji (Bishamonten)
Refer to this site: http://otakaramap.funboy.info/modules/pico/index.php?content_id=68
Bishamonten is a god of military arts achievement, demon exorcism, home safety, and couple’s harmonization. The predecessor of Bishamonten is a god of Hinduism, Kubera God, and it is incorporated into Buddhism and is called Bishamonten in Japan. Tohji, in which Bishamonten is enshrined, is a very famous temple of Kyoto and one of the World Heritage Sites .
【Touji】
(address) 1, Kujocho, Minamiku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
(access) 10minutes walk from Kintetsu Densha Toji station, 15minutes walk from JR Kyoto station
(URL) http://www.toji.or.jp/
Rokuharamitsuji (Benzaiten)
Refer to this site: http://guide.travel.co.jp/article/1922/
Benzaiten is the only goddess in Seven Lucky Gods, and comes from the Hindu goddess, Saraswati. There said to be a benefit of economic fortune, fulfillment in love, academic achievement, art progress.
【Rokuharamitsuji】
(address)Agaruhigashi, Gojo-dori Yamato Ouji, Higashiyamaku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
(access) 10minutes walk from Keihan Honsen Kiyomizugojo station
(URL) http://rokuhara.or.jp/
Sekizanzenin (Fukurokuju)
Refer to this site: http://nodahanshin.doorblog.jp/archives/40046549.html
Fukurokuju is a God whose origin is Chinese Taoism, and also the one of longevity. There is a benefit of financial good luck, longevity, social success, natural virtue and popularity. There are few coin-operated parkings around the shrine, so I recommend you to visit by public transport.
【Sekizanzenin】
(address) 18, Shugakuin Kaikonboucho, Sakyoku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
(access) 7minutes ride (by taxi) from subway Karasuma Line Matsugasaki station/20minutes walk or 5minutes ride (by taxi) from Eizan Densha Shugakuin station
(URL) http://www.sekizanzenin.com/sanpai.html
Koudou Gyoganji (Juroujin)
Refer to this site: http://kyotomoyou.jp/gyoganji-20140325
Koudou Gyoganji is a temple having a thousand years’ history. Juroujin is one of the Seven Lucky Gods and long head old man. Same as Fukurokuju, Juroujin is a God whose origin is Chinese Taoism, and the one of longevity. There is a benefit of longevity, family happiness, fortune wisdom.
【Koudou Gyoganji】
(address) 17, Gyoganji Monzencho, Takeyacho-Agaru, Teramachidori, Nakagyoku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
(access) 10minutes walk from Keihan Dentetsu Marutamachi station
(URL) http://www.saikoku33.gr.jp/place/19
Manpukuji (Hoteison)
Refer to this site: https://kyotrip.jp/terra-shrine/mampukuji-shichifukujin/
Manpukuji is dedicated to the Gautama Buddha. Hotei is said to be the only real person in the Seven Lucky Gods.
Refer to this site: http://guesthouse-hostel.com/uji-obakusan/
There is a benefit of full of customers, prosperity of home fortune, family harmony, business prosperity.
【Manpukuji】
(address) 34, Gokasho Sanbanwari, Uji city, Kyoto
(access) 5minutes walk from JR Nara Line Oubaku station, Keihan Uji Line
(URL) http://www.obakusan.or.jp/
【Regular Sightseeing Bus】
Kyoto Teiki Kanko Bus
(URL) https://resv.kyototeikikanko.gr.jp/Teikan/dispcourse/dispcoursesearch.aspx
Let’s get seven vermillion stamp !
Refer to this site: http://iwalkedblog.com/?p=1211
Let’s get a vermillion stamps at each shrine if you are going around the Seven Lucky Gods shrines. Card for autographs and hanging scroll are sold at each shrine or temple.
It will be a commemoration of the trip.
Summary
Refer to this site: http://sonota.hateblo.jp/entry/shichifukujinnoyurai
Kyoto Miyako Shichifukujinmeguri is a very popular sightseeing course. If you visit Kyoto in January, it’s so recommended ! How about going around the Seven Lucky God shrines for better fortune ?