Traffic restrictions for Toka Ebisu plus food stalls from sister city Amami Oshima appearing for the first time

Traffic restrictions will be in place from January 9 to 11 for Toka Ebisu.

Here ↓

The traffic restrictions will be in effect from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the 9th to 11th. The dark-colored roads will become pedestrian-only streets. Around Ebessan-suji and the Chuo Shopping Street area.

Changes to Hanshin Bus Stops

Dates: January 9 (Tue), 10 (Wed), and 11 (Thu)

Due to traffic restrictions on the Naruo Mikage Line, the bus stop at the south exit of Hanshin Nishinomiya Station will be closed and unavailable.
The alternative bus stop will be at the east exit of Hanshin Nishinomiya Station, along the Fudaba-suji Line. The affected routes are the “Nishinomiya Hamate Line,” “Marina Park Line,” and “Nishinomiya Yamate Line.”

Here ↓

Hanshin Nishinomiya East Exit is along the Fudaba-suji Line.

• Departure times for buses bound for the Hamate and Marina Park areas will be changed between JR Nishinomiya Station South Exit and Hanshin Nishinomiya Station East Exit.
• Some services will be suspended on weekday operating days from January 9 (Thu) to 10 (Fri).

A Kurobuta Pork Stall from Amami Oshima Will Appear

There will be at least more than 340 food stalls inside and outside the shrine grounds during Toka Ebisu. This time, we’re giving you advance info on a unique new stall making its debut.

Did you know that Amami Oshima is a friendship city of Nishinomiya?

On the map, it’s here ↓

The address is in Kagoshima Prefecture. But it’s closer to Okinawa.

When you think of Kagoshima, you think of Kurobuta pork. And get this! Kurobuta pigs raised on Nishinomiya sake lees will be available to eat. This rare Kurobuta pork, almost never seen on the market, is making its Toka Ebisu debut

This time, Shachomi also joined the greeting visit to Nishinomiya Shrine for the stall coming from Amami.

Next to Shachomi are Gongeguji Yoshii Yoshihide (よしい よしひで ごんぐうじ) and Negi Yoshii Yoshimichi (よしい よしみち ねぎ). Kurobuta from Amami that ate Nishinomiya sake lees! You just know it’s going to be good.

Amami Product Lineup

• 🔥 Charcoal-grilled Amami sake lees pork (limited quantity)
• 🌭 Amami sake lees pork sausages (limited quantity)
• 🐟 Fried horse mackerel with smoked tartar sauce
• 🍶 Amami brown sugar shochu (Ryugu) + snack set

Because sake lees pork is rare and only available in small quantities, it may sell out quickly.

The sausages are no longer available.

The sausages are a sake lees Kurobuta version of the sausages previously sold at the pedestrian paradise event in the Koshienguchi Shopping Street. We also heard from readers that they were really delicious.

If they sell out, only the fried horse mackerel will be available, but since it comes with smoked tartar sauce, this should be really tasty too! They did say this one doesn’t have much to do with Amami though, lol.

Check the Live Camera to See How Crowded It Is

Nishinomiya Shrine has a live camera installed so you can check how crowded it is.

Below is January 10, 2022 ↓

Just before 4 p.m. on Hon Ebisu, the approach was packed like this.

→Live camera here

This is probably Ebessan-suji at its most crowded. Apparently it took 30 minutes to get to the Akamon Gate.

Finally

This year’s Toka Ebisu is packed with special food stalls and events! Don’t miss rare treats like Amami Kurobuta and sake lees Kurobuta sausages. If you’re worried about crowds, check the live camera and enjoy the festival safely.