{"id":27025,"date":"2021-12-08T15:00:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T15:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=27025"},"modified":"2023-05-31T02:19:08","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T02:19:08","slug":"omikuji-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/omikuji-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"An introduction to omikuji in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"

They\u2019re an absolute must-see whether you\u2019re religious or not.\u00a0<\/span>Japan\u2019s temples and shrines are some of the most beautiful in the world. Most of them are nestled into gorgeous locations across the country. Think secluded cliff-side retreats, seaside sanctuaries, or hideaways in the woods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they were built this way by design. Being outdoors is the best way to commune with the <\/span>kami <\/span><\/i>(\u795e) – Shinto gods that are the essence of nature itself. Even if you\u2019re not a believer, you won\u2019t find a better place to find quiet serenity in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

There, you may also notice all sorts of charms, wooden plaques, and ribbons strung about. The most fun of these is called <\/span>omikuji\u00a0<\/i><\/strong>(\u5fa1\u795e\u7c64)<\/strong>. They\u2019re a traditional form of fortune-telling that anyone can take part in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To try it yourself, read on and learn all about omikuji in Japan. You’ll find out how to choose one and how to understand your fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"omikuji<\/p>\n

What is Omikuji?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Omikuji is an ancient form of fortune telling in Japan. They are written on plain white paper with traditional and modern Japanese characters. Your fortune is interpreted through ancient parables that speak about health, work, family, love, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can see them hanging around temples everywhere. They\u2019re available for anyone in exchange for a small donation of about 100-300 yen.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to use Omikuji\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are two main types of omikuji in Japan – stick and paper. But, getting an omikuji is about the same everywhere with a few variations between temples.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most simple way is like a gacha-style container. You pay a donation (usually around 100 to 300 yen), reach your hand into a container and grab your sealed fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might get a number instead of the omikuji itself. In this case, bring it to the temple staff and they\u2019ll exchange it for your fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or, you might be handed a wooden cylinder by the staff instead of a fortune. Don\u2019t just stand there sporting the classic <\/span>puzzled gaijin<\/span><\/i> look, give that bad boy a shake! After a rattle, you should spot an opening in the box where a numbered stick comes out. Give that stick to the staff in exchange for your omikuji.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or! (Last one. Promise.) You might see a series of numbered drawers in the donation area. After you get your number (by paper, stick, or wooden cylinder), find the corresponding drawer to get your omikuji.<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years omikuji have also been available in the form of small ornaments, or <\/span>okimono<\/span><\/i> \u7f6e\u7269<\/span>. For example, at different shrines around Kyoto you can find these ornaments in the shape of a crow, pigeons, foxes, daruma and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, figure out if your omikuji is a good fortune or cursed fortune. What you should do next depends on which one you get.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Fortunes\/omikuji<\/p>\n

How to read your fortune\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Each omikuji usually includes a story or poem written in traditional and modern Japanese. This is the key to interpreting your fortune. These stories might be difficult to understand (even for natives) and not all omikuji are translated into English.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, there\u2019s an easy way to figure out how lucky you were. Each omikuji comes with a ranking. This is usually the biggest kanji on the paper. They\u2019re each ranked like so:<\/span><\/p>\n