Various food stalls appear every year at Nishinomiya Shrine’s Toka Ebisu festival, and this year, unbelievably, a “phantom black pork” has come all the way from Amami Oshima. Even better, it’s a special kind of black pork raised on sake lees from Nishinomiya, so you definitely won’t want to miss it.
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How to Get Around the Shrine Grounds and the Full Shrine Pilgrimage Route
If you’re visiting, use this map as a guide↓
After paying your respects at the Ebessan main shrine, head toward the exit on the left side when facing the main hall. Continue along the path, and it will take you on a route where you can visit all of the following shrines.
Hyakudayu Shrine: A historic shrine dedicated to the deity of puppeteers. For those wishing to improve or succeed in the performing arts
Okuninushi-nishi Shrine: Enshrines the deities of medicine, Onamuchi-no-Mikoto and Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto. For those praying for health and medical care
Oki Ebisu Shrine: A shrine dedicated to the fierce Ebisu deity known as “Araebisu-san.” For those wishing for a fresh start or change
Nangu Shrine: An old shrine dedicated to deities connected to Hirota Shrine. For those praying for victory and good fortune
Follow this route, and you can stop by the Amami Oshima food stall along the way too〜
Here It Is: Amami’s Much-Talked-About “Phantom Black Pork”
This is the famous “phantom black pork” booth!
At this Amami Oshima booth, making its first-ever appearance, you can enjoy black pork said to have been raised on sake lees from Nishinomiya!
The savory aroma of the grilling black pork spread across the shrine approach, and plenty of visitors stopped in their tracks saying, “That smells so good!”
Grilled salted pork↓
Just looking at it, you can tell how juicy this phantom black pork grilled salted pork is! (1,000 yen)
It’s finished with Amami salt, and the more you chew, the more the umami spreads.
The black pigs raised on Nishinomiya sake lees grow over 11 months, and thanks to improved gut health, their gamey smell disappears. That’s what gives the pork its sweetness and umami! So that’s the secret behind the “phantom black pork.” Apparently, only a small amount can be produced, so it almost never makes it to market… which means now is your chance!
And then, something that makes you look twice↓
This is fried horse mackerel with smoked tartar sauce, covered in green onions (1,000 yen).
The green onions are crisp, and the fried horse mackerel is thick and fluffy! There’s no fishy taste at all, and the smoked tartar sauce is so good you could eat it on its own. The tartar is packed with chunky ingredients, making it seriously addictive.
There’s also the rare brown sugar shochu “Ryugu”↓
Amami Oshima’s brown sugar shochu “Ryugu” is an ultra-rare find that is not widely available in Kansai.
They also offer a set with hot shochu and your choice of one of three snacks (1,000 yen). The smoked nuts are apparently rich in flavor and irresistible for shochu lovers.
A Chance to Get Half Off by Playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with the Owner?!
At this stall, you can enjoy black pork raised by Niino-san of “Amami Meat,” who came from Amami Oshima. PayPay is accepted too. Plus, if you say “I saw it on Nishi2,” you’ll get 200 yen off. And if you beat the owner at rock-paper-scissors… you might even get half off?! You’ve got to test your luck!
Final Thoughts
If you’re heading to Toka Ebisu, grab your lucky bamboo branch and be sure to try these amazing eats from Amami Oshima. Warm yourself up with the phantom black pork, smoked tartar fried horse mackerel, and brown sugar shochu “Ryugu,” and take home a little extra good fortune too〜
