Kyoto local legends, the fortune-telling stone

Ever since my first visit to Japan I was fascinated by the multitude of customs and traditions related to good luck, wish granting and fortune telling. Besides the rites which are common to any Shinto shrine, such as omamori or omikuji, there are also many unique local legends.

I wrote some time ago about the pair of kitsune at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, holding a ring that grants good luck to those who manage to throw a rock through it. At the same shrine, there's also a legend about a pair of fortune-telling stones called omokaru-ishi, the rocks on top of the stone lanterns photographed here.

The legend says that after you make a wish, you should try to guess the weight of the stone. The you lift the stone, and if it seems to be light, it means that the wish will be granted. If it seems heavy, don't despair, you can try again another day...