Mizu Mikuji: When Water Becomes Your Fortune Teller
Get your fortune told with water slips at these Japanese shrines
Omikuji (おみくじ) — Japanese fortune slips — have long been a part of Japanese culture. These small pieces of paper purchased at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples contain words of advice for the future. While most shrines and temples stick to traditional omikuji, some have adapted new versions to appeal to a modern audience. One such adaptation is called mizu mikuji (水占みくじ).
What Is Mizu Mikuji?
As you might guess from the name, mizu mikuji (水占みくじ) are a type of omikuji. Like the traditional version, they provide predictions of the future, including matters of life, health, relationship, etc. However, there’s a unique twist to mizu mikuji — they require an additional step to read your fortune. Instead of being immediately readable, these fortune slips need to be dipped into water. Only then does the writing appear, unveiling your future.
Shrines that offer mizu mikuji typically have a small fountain where visitors can soak their fortune slips. Some places even offer a small bottle of water for those who want to reread their mizu mikuji at home.
Due to their nature, mizu mikuji are usually available only during the summer to avoid having to soak them in freezing water in the winter.
Why Does Mizu Mikuji Exist?
There are various explanations for mizu mikuji, most of which are linked to weather conditions and religious beliefs.
Weather
Japan experiences a rainy season during the summer, especially in June and July. Heavy rain soaks regular fortune slips making them difficult to read. Hence, several shrines introduced mizu mikuji to ensure that even if the paper gets soaked, it won’t cause any inconvenience.
Religious Belief
Still, the more significant reason lies in water’s traditional role in Japanese culture. As an island nation, Japan has a deep connection with water, especially in the native Shinto religion.
In Shintoism, water serves as a means of purification, evident in the presence of temizuya (wash basins) at the entrances of Shinto shrines. The same concept applies to mizu mikuji. By soaking the fortune slips in water, the accumulated defilement, wrongdoings, and misfortune will be washed away in the water, leaving only the advice of the gods.
Additionally, in Japan water symbolizes the connection between people. Summer is considered a season for couples culminating in the Tanabata festival in June. Many shrines market mizu mikuji as a love charm, promising to assist visitors with their relationships.
Where to Find Mizu Mikuji?
Mizu mikuji is only available at several shrines across Japan. Check out these top spots to try mizu mikuji:
Kifune Jinja (Kyoto)
Kifune Jinja takes the lead when it comes to mizu mikuji thanks to its association with Takaokami no kami, a water-controlling deity. The locals swear by the accuracy of the fortune slips here, given the belief that the water deity is all-knowing.
Moreover, Kifune Jinja is renowned for blessing relationships, drawing countless couples seeking divine intervention for their love lives. The water used for mizu mikuji comes straight from Mount Kifune’s spring. Tourists can also drink the water there or bring a bottle home.
Shimogamo Jinja (Kyoto)
As one of Kyoto’s oldest shrines with a sophisticated architectural style and numerous small shrines, Shimogamo Jinja holds UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
For mizu mikuji, head to the Mitarashi-sha, where a deity of clean water and purification is honored. The fortune slip is dipped in the nearby Mitarai Pond.
Ikuta Jinja (Kobe)
Ikuta Jinja is the go-to shrine in Kobe, dedicated to Wakahirume no Mikoto, the goddess of sewing. The act of threading fabric in Japanese culture resembles the destiny of connections between people, tying in with the theme of love and marriage in Ikuta Jinja’s mizu mikuji.
Adorned with charming hearts, these fortune slips attract those looking to enhance their romantic luck. The ritual involves dipping the mizu mikuji in a pond within the Ikuta Forest.
Chichibu Jinja (Saitama)
In the Kanto region, Chichibu Jinja stands as one of the oldest Shinto shrines. Devoted to Yagokoro-omoikane-no-mikoto, a deity known for providing counsel to other gods, Chichibu Jinja is the spot for those seeking academic success and love luck.
The shrine offers two types of omikuji: one for general fortune and another specifically for love. Check the color of the omikuji obi before selecting, with pink indicating love and other colors like blue, green, orange, red, or yellow representing different contents. After obtaining the omikuji, take a moment to soak it in the underground water flowing from Mount Buko.
Kasuga Taisha (Nara)
Considered one of the most sacred places in Nara, Kasuga Taisha houses four main deities and numerous lucky gods. Today, Kasuga Taisha is considered a power spot for matchmaking, with stories abound about happy marriages following visits to the shrine.
With 62 small shrines for various gods, the shrine recommends exploring as many as possible for maximum divine assistance. Even if time is tight, aim for all the shrines on the Kasuga Wakamiya 15 Shrine Pilgrimage course before getting your mizu mikuji.
Water has long been a pillar of Japanese life, so it’s no surprise to see it woven into Shintoism. Mizu mikuji demonstrates how an interesting tweak can turn a familiar tradition into an exciting new experience for visitors.
