Are Cute Animals the Messengers of God? 5 Omikuji to draw at shrines and temples in Kyoto

When you come to a shrine, you want to draw an omikuji at least once. Omikuji tell our fortune and good or bad luck, right?
It is also attractive because it can be used as a reference for future life guidelines, as it includes details such as "big luck" and "small luck," as well as general life information such as money, love, waiting, health, and so on.
The custom is to tie such omikuji on a tree branch and return home. Recently, however, there are many cute designs of animals and people that can be taken home and displayed as a souvenir.

We would like to introduce five kawaii "omikuji" in Kyoto.

 

Table of Contents

1. Hirano Shrine "Squirrel's sign".

2. "Usagi Omikuji" at Okazaki Shrine

Uji Shrine "Mikaeri-Usagi Omikuji

4. Kenninji Ryosokuin Temple "Tora-mikuji

5. Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine "Hato-mikuji

■ Summary

 

 

1. Hirano Shrine "Squirrel's sign".

Squirrel omikuji, "Squirrel's oracle," at Hirano Shrine.
It is so cute that it is holding a fortune in its curled tail and holding a cherry blossom with both hands tightly.
The motif is based on the fact that "squirrels" are considered to be messengers of the gods at Hirano Shrine.
Hirano Shrine is also famous for its cherry blossoms, which bloom in more than 60 varieties, so be sure to see them in the spring season.

 

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Hirano Shrine
Address: 1 Hiranomiyamoto-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Access: Take city bus No. 50 from JR Kyoto Station to Kinugasa-ko-mae bus stop, about 3 minutes walk from Kinugasa-ko-mae bus stop.

HP:https://www.hiranojinja.com/

 

 

2. "Usagi Omikuji" at Okazaki Shrine

The Okazaki Shrine has a cute "Usagi Omikuji" (rabbit fortune) with its paws together.
The area around Okazaki Shrine was once inhabited by rabbits, which were considered to be messengers of the gods.
As a result, you can see many rabbit motifs at Okazaki Shrine, such as beckoning rabbits, rabbit levee lights, and guardian rabbits, all with rabbit designs.
The omikuji is a colonized, round rabbit with a fortune inside.
Each rabbit has a different expression, so please compare and choose the best one for you.

 

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■Okazaki Shrine
Address: 51 Okazaki Higashi Tenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Access: Short walk from Okazaki Jinja-mae bus stop by city bus No. 32, 203, 93, 204

HP:https://okazakijinja.jp/

 

 

Uji Shrine "Mikaeri-Usagi Omikuji

There are several rabbit omikuji in Kyoto, but the most popular is the "Mikaerusagi Omikuji" at Uji Shrine.
Some of the statues of rabbits seen here and there on the shrine grounds are posed looking backward, because when Uji Shrine's deity, Ujiroko-no-mikoto, came to Uji from Kawachi, he was lost on his way, and a rabbit looking back at him guided him along the way.
This is why rabbits are considered to be the messengers of the gods at this shrine. The omikuji (fortune slip) also features a rabbit in a looking back pose, which is very cute.

 

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■Uji Shrine
Address: 1 Uji Yamada, Uji City, Kyoto, Japan
Access: 10 min. walk from Uji Station on Keihan Uji Line

HP:http://uji-jinja.com/

 

 

4. Kenninji Ryosokuin Temple "Tora-mikuji

Ryosokuin is the pagoda temple of Kenninji, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.
Bishamonten Hall, which enshrines Bishamonten, the god of victory, is home to komainu (guardian dogs) and komatora (tigers). The shrine also offers a variety of other attractions, such as red seals, amulets, ema (votive picture tablet), and omikuji (written omikuji), all of which have the tiger as a motif.
The tiger omikuji has a calm expression and a cute, floppy shape, with a fortune inside.
They are often out of stock by New Year's every year.

 

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Kenninji Ryosokuin
Address: 591 Komatsu-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Access: Keihan "Gion-Shijo" station, about 7 minutes walk

HP:https://ryosokuin.com/

 

 

5. Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine "Hato-mikuji

Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine, one of the three major Hachimangu shrines in Japan, is famous for prayers for victory, family safety, good luck against bad luck, prosperous business, and safe delivery.
Since pigeons are considered to be messengers of the gods at Hachimangu Shrine, the grounds are decorated with pigeons, and the omikuji (fortune slip) has a cute design with a little pigeon on top of a rolled-up cylindrical lottery ticket.

 

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■Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine
Address: 30 Yawata Takabo, Yawata City, Kyoto, Japan
Access: Transfer from Kyoto Station to Tambabashi Station on the Kintetsu Line, get off at Ishimizu Hachimangu Station on the Keihan Line, and get off at Hachimanguyama-jo Station on the approach cable (about 5 minutes walk)

HP:https://iwashimizu.or.jp/

 

 

■ Summary

How was it?
In this issue, we have introduced some of the most popular and adorable omikuji in Kyoto.

Although the image of finding popular attractions and sightseeing at shrines is strong, it is also recommended to visit shrines for their lovely omikuji.
We hope you will use this article as a guide for your fortune-telling.