Bad Luck Is Lucky?! Unique Omikuji At Morooka-Kumano Shrine, Yokohama

A Sacred Place in Kanagawa: What is Morooka-Kumano Shrine?

Located in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, Morooka-Kumano Shrine is dedicated to the deities of the top three Kumano shrines in Wakayama(*1). With a history of 1290 years, it is said that during the second half of the 9th century this shrine was where the Imperial family came to offer prayers for the peace of the nation, as well as other important supplications.

The deities enshrined here are Izanami-no-mikoto, Kotosaka-no-o-no-mikoto, and Hayatama-no-o-no-mikoto. It is said that praying at Morooka-Kumano Shrine is especially good for luck in games, pregnancy and getting rid of evil fate.

*1. The top three Kumano shrines in Wakayama: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha.

You're Lucky If You Draw a Bad Fortune Slip?!

Omikuji are luck divining slips of paper and the omikuji at Morooka-Kumano Shrine are quite unique.

What's so special about them is that, if you draw a bad fortune slip called 'Kyo', you can get a fortune charm to fix your luck called Wazawai Tenji Tefukutonasu Omamori ('a bad fortune turns out to be a good fortune' lucky charm). This talisman is said to be able to turn your predicted bad luck into good fortune instead. They started giving out these lucky charms as they wanted those who drew bad fortune slips to become happy when they left the shrine.

This service became a popular topic on TV, which even made some people hope to draw a bad fortune in order to receive this special lucky charm.

This is the bad fortune slip and the lucky charm that only those who have gotten a bad fortune slip can get.

The fortune slips are all in Japanese, so please visit the reception area in the picture. They will let you know the detailed contents of the slip, and if you've gotten a bad fortune slip, you can receive the lucky charm there.

There are charms of the lucky deities (Ebisu and Daikoku from the Japanese seven lucky deities) in the daikichi, or best fortune, slips. These are great good luck items to take home with you.

You can draw a slip by first putting a 100 yen coin into the slats on the box, then reaching inside and drawing out one fortune paper. There are no change machines at the shrine, so please be sure to bring extra coins with you if you are visiting this shrine.
In addition to these omikuji, there are also natural stone slips (200 yen), and star key chain ones (300 yen) from which you can divine your future as well.