Originally built in 601 as a guardian shrine to guard the western side of Shitennoji Temple by the order of Prince Shotoku ( 574-622 ). The shrine is now well known for its annual festival between 9and 11 January. The festival is affectionately called " Ebessan " after Ebisu, the god of shrine, and a few million peorle come to visit the festival every year. The name Imamiya is known since the 13th century as the name appeared in one of the history books of the time.

Now more about "Ebessan " festival.
9 January ; " Ebessan " eve
10 January ; Main festival
11 January ; Day of leftover luck

The god Ebisu is a guardian of sea-going people such as sailors, fishermen as well as merchants. So the merchants and fishermen of Osaka have great faith in "Ebisu ". The god is said to be hard of hearing because too many merchants came to him to shout what they wished to his ear. So you have to beat the gong at the back of the main shrine building after you offer money in the coffer at the front.

Å@Things you should know about the festival.

The first festival in Osaka, a city of marchants, after the New Year is " Ebisu " festival ( Toka Ebisu ). Since when have people began to come to Ebisu for good luck in business?

The " Toka Ebisu " is one of the three most visited festival in Japan. There are two others in Kyoto and Tokyo. Most of the festivals in Japan take place either in summer or in autumn.
Perhaps they have not much time for drinking, as they are usually quite busy at the end of the year.

But this one is a winter festival. Tokyo also has a similar festival " Otori-san " at the end of the year for three days similar to " Toka Ebisu ".

At the " Otori-san ", they sell a bomboo rake to rake a lot of good luck, just like they sell talismans at the " Toka Ebisu ".

Only difference between the two festival may be that people drink Japanese rice wine, "Sake ", at " Toka Ebisu " while they do not at the " Otori-san ".

New Year is a time for drinking for most of us. And we are not yet completely free of alcohol at the time of " Toka Ebisu ".

Ebisu is said to be hard of hearing. So people make sure thwt Ebisu can hear that they wish Ebisu to bring them good bisiness by pounding the wall at the back of shrine. It is what the visitors da traditionally.

There is another explanation. Most of visitors to the shrine come from Semba or Dojima in the north to arrive at the north ( back ) gate of the shrine. So they say that the visitors first pounded the north wall of the shrine as they arrived. Indeed, the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine faces the south and there were few house in the neighbourhood at that time. And far greater number of the shrine visitors were from Semba and Dobuike in the north where many merchants used to live.

Just like many customs, we do not know exactly why they originated, but even today we continue to beat the gong at the back of the shrine.