about a local festival of my hometown.

My hometown has the head shrine of Yebisu which is a Japanese deity of commercial activity. From January 9 to 11, the biggest festival of Yebisu shrine is held, which is called To-Ka Yebisu. More than a million people come to the shrine to pray for good luck and prosperity of the year. Nishinomiya is famous for sake production. You can find a lot of sake barrels in the main hall of the shrine. They are wrapped with woven straw and have decorative labels identifying the makers.

After praying in the main hall, people buy bamboo branches which have many good luck charms to hang on the wall of their own houses or offices in hope of good luck of the year.