Why Did the Area Around Mt. Ikoma Become a Town of Faith and Fortune Telling?

During the Edo Period, merchants from the Senba district of Osaka would put their hands together as they faced Mt. Ikoma each morning, praying for business prosperity.

There are three notable shrines at the foot of Mt. Ikoma. Hiraoka Shrine is known for predicting good harvests for the year, while Hyotanyama Inari Shrine is famous for a kind of fortune-telling called “tsujiura.” The Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine, affectionately called “Ishikiri-san,” has been worshiped as a god of healing. Many fortune-telling shops line the approach to this shrine, adding to the mystique of the area.

Let’s explore the town to uncover the mystery behind the unique character of Mt. Ikoma and why it’s associated with faith and fortune-telling.