Achi Shrine’s exclusive omikuji “Iroha Ura” 〜 Test your luck with an omikuji packed with surprises that makes visiting the shrine (hatsumōde) many times more fun

Omikuji, or fortunes drawn at shrines, are a cherished part of Japanese culture that let you casually try your luck.

Since you can draw one for a modest offering of 100 to 300 yen, I always have my fortune told by an omikuji when I visit a shrine.

Shrine grounds also get busy at the start of the year, with people coming to learn their fortunes for the year ahead.

At Achi Shrine in Kurashiki, you can draw an original omikuji called Iroha Ura.

When I heard it was an omikuji exclusive to Achi Shrine, I wondered, “How is it different from an ordinary omikuji?” So I headed straight to the shrine to find out.

Here’s a look at Iroha Ura, packed with all kinds of surprises beyond simply testing your luck.

About Iroha Ura

Iroha Ura is an omikuji that Achi Shrine began offering in January 2023.

Someone from Achi Shrine told me what inspired them to create Iroha Ura and what it contains.

Iroha Ura was created with the idea of making shrine visits more enjoyable and creating an omikuji that would become a memorable keepsake for visitors coming to the shrine as tourists.

The name Iroha Ura combines “iroha uta” (the traditional Japanese syllabary poem) and “uranai” (fortune-telling).

They considered arranging the fortunes in “aiueo” (the Japanese syllabary) order, but chose the iroha uta as their theme because it would feel new to younger people and nostalgic to older generations.

In keeping with the iroha uta, there are 48 different omikuji.

As of December 2023, Achi Shrine offers three types of omikuji, including Iroha Ura.

• Iroha Ura
• Tonbodama Omikuji
• Hato Omikuji

The shrine office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visiting Achi Shrine to draw Iroha Ura

Achi Shrine is about a 15-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
On the way from Kurashiki Station to the Bikan Historical Area, pass through Kurashiki Ebisu-dori Shopping Street, and you’ll find the stairs leading up to Achi Shrine.

There are quite a few steps, but you can take your time and enjoy the streetscape of the Kurashiki area, stopping for a breather along the way. It’s just the right amount of exercise for a stroll.

I arrived at the shrine grounds. First, I paid my respects, then headed to the shrine office on the right.

Iroha Ura was set out in front of the shrine office.

Let’s draw one.

What’s inside Iroha Ura

I shook the wooden box, and the stick that came out had “ki” written on it.

I told the person inside the shrine office the hiragana character and received my Iroha Ura. I also paid the 200-yen offering at this time.

What kind of fortune would “ki” reveal?

On the front of the Iroha Ura were the hiragana character “ki,” the kanji “伎,” and an illustration of chrysanthemum sake.

Apparently, “伎” is a Manyogana character, and it was a new discovery for me that this is the kanji used to represent “ki.”

The illustration of chrysanthemum sake is cute, like something from a hanafuda card.

Next, let’s look at the back.

As you’d expect from an omikuji, the back had a fortune written on it. But instead of the familiar “moderate blessing,” it said “Wait for a moderate blessing”—a fortune I’d never seen before.

When I asked someone from Achi Shrine, they explained that there are many kinds of fortunes. The idea is to encourage people not to judge their fortune just by labels such as “blessing” or “curse,” but to read it carefully as guidance from the gods.

It’s true that I’d never seen this fortune on an ordinary omikuji, so it makes you want to read every word.

At the bottom of the Iroha Ura was a little-known fact about the illustration on the front.

The story of auspicious chrysanthemum sake offers a glimpse into the lives of women in the past.

There are 48 different Iroha Ura, so you’ll want to read all kinds of them.

You can’t help wanting to collect them.

48 colors of paper, rare even in Japan

There are 48 types of Iroha Ura, and the paper comes in 48 different colors.

Omikuji made with a different color of paper for every single type are apparently quite rare across Japan.

The “ki” I drew this time was pale yellow.

I wondered whether “ki” was yellow because of the color’s name, or whether it was chosen to match the color of chrysanthemums—and all sorts of other possibilities came to mind.

At New Year, a temporary place to tie fortunes is set up, and the grounds are covered with Iroha Ura in a variety of colors. It would be lovely to start the new year by seeing such a festive scene.

Another thing that caught my attention was the texture of the paper.

Unlike ordinary omikuji, Iroha Ura is printed on slightly textured paper. It has the feel of washi and is lovely to touch, making you want to take it home and treasure it.

How to enjoy Iroha Ura

Iroha Ura makes for an interesting read even just as a way to test your luck, but someone from Achi Shrine told me about another way to enjoy it.

First, look for the illustrations.

The motifs shown in the illustrations are scattered throughout the grounds of Achi Shrine, so you can explore the shrine grounds while searching for them.

I tried looking for the illustrations myself on another day.

The one I drew that day was “n.” It shows a komainu with its mouth closed.

I looked for the komainu near the torii gate and found one right away.

Or so I thought—but when I checked with someone from Achi Shrine, it turned out I was mistaken: the one depicted is apparently the komainu beneath the Zuishinmon Gate.

Incidentally, “n” features the shrine crest rather than a Manyogana character, and I found that on the shrine grounds too.

You can make your way around the shrine grounds while observing things closely. It would be nice to explore on your own, or fun to search together and talk things over. You’ll find yourself looking at places you’d normally overlook, so you might even make a new discovery.

I also heard that drawing Iroha Ura with family or friends and comparing them can be a lot of fun.

Some people get hiragana combinations that form words like “achi” or “osushi,” while others find that the kanji used for the Manyogana match their own names. The characters alone can spark all kinds of conversation.

The author got “ki” and “n,” so I secretly hoped my financial luck would improve...

From the Writer

Iroha-ura, filled with all kinds of clever touches, is a fortune slip that makes visiting Achi Shrine even more enjoyable and accessible.

Shinto and shrines are not things I encounter much in my everyday life, but I was able to learn about manyogana, little-known facts, and fortunes that are rarely seen, making for an experience unlike any I’d had before.

There are so many varieties that you’ll find yourself wanting to collect them.

If you’re visiting the shrine as a tourist, I recommend drawing one as a keepsake of your time in Kurashiki.

They’re of course fun to read right after drawing one, but taking it home and reading it again at your leisure offers a different kind of enjoyment.

Draw them, read them, collect them, and enjoy Iroha-ura.

Why not try your luck for the New Year with Iroha-ura, packed with so many thoughtful details?

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