Questions, answered
If something is not here, write to hello@omairikyoto.com and we will answer within 3 business days.
Postcards
How long does it take to arrive?
Cards are sent from Kyoto by air mail and usually arrive within 7–14 days. A single postcard is posted within 3 business days of your order. Subscription cards are written and posted in the same week each month.
Can I change the address it goes to?
Yes. Change it yourself in the customer portal, or write to us. Tell us before the first week of the month and the next card goes to the new address.
Can I cancel the subscription?
Any time, by yourself, in the customer portal. It stops at the end of the period you have already paid for, and the cards you paid for still come.
Can I send one to someone else?
Yes. Order a gift postcard, enter their address, and add a line from you. We write it on the card in your name.
Who takes the photographs?
We do. Every photograph on our cards was taken by us in Kyoto. We do not use stock photography.
Do you post outside the United States?
Yes. We post worldwide, and international postage is included in every price. Enter the address in your own country's format at checkout.
Is the same photograph sent to everyone?
In a given month, subscribers receive the same photograph. The handwritten side is written out card by card.
What if a card is lost in the post?
International mail occasionally goes missing. If a card has not arrived six weeks after it was posted, tell us and we will send a replacement free of charge. See our Refund Policy for the details.
Do you write in languages other than English?
We write in English. If you need a name or a short phrase in Japanese on the card, ask us and we will add it.
Rituals
What exactly do you do?
Omairi Kyoto is a cultural experience service. You share a wish, and we physically visit Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, offer your wish following traditional etiquette, and document the visit for you in a written report.
Which shrine do you visit?
Fushimi Inari Taisha in southern Kyoto — the head shrine of all Inari shrines, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates.
Are you affiliated with the shrine?
No. Omairi Kyoto is an independent cultural experience service. We visit as ordinary worshippers, following traditional etiquette. Your monetary offering (osaisen) goes directly to the shrine.
How do I know the visit really happened?
Every report is photo-documented. We don't just say we went — we show you.
What's included in the visit report?
At least 5 photos taken during your visit, a written account of how the visit unfolded, and (for Negai) confirmation of your ema dedication.
Do you guarantee results?
No one can. What we guarantee is the visit itself: your wish, carried to the shrine and documented for you.
Is this a religious service?
No. This is a cultural experience rooted in Japan's long tradition of daisan — visiting a shrine on someone's behalf.
How long does it take?
Your report arrives by email within 7 business days. The Negai postcard is sent by international mail and typically arrives within 2–4 weeks.
What does the postcard say?
The postcard describes the visit — never the contents of your wish. Your wish stays between you and the shrine.
What if my postcard doesn't arrive?
International mail can occasionally go missing. If your postcard hasn't arrived within 6 weeks, contact us and we'll send another one free of charge (one resend per order).
What is your refund policy?
Full refund any time before the visit takes place. After the visit, orders are non-refundable. See our Refund Policy for details.
Can I send this as a gift?
Yes. Order Negai and enter the recipient's mailing address at checkout — they'll receive a postcard from Kyoto. Your report goes to your email, and you can forward it.