Omikuji in Japan: What They Are and How to Use Them

If you've ever visited a Japanese shrine or temple, you may have seen small slips of paper tied to tree branches or special racks. These are omikuji (おみくじ), traditional fortune slips that offer guidance and predictions for different aspects of life. But what exactly are they, and how do you use them?

What is omikuji?

Omikuji are fortune-telling slips found at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan. The word "omikuji" (おみくじ) is written with the kanji 御神籤, which roughly translates to "sacred lottery." These slips contain predictions about different areas of life, such as:

• Overall fortune (運勢 - unsei)

• Love and relationships

• Health

• Career and business

• Travel

• Academics and studies

Each slip has a general fortune ranking, ranging from excellent luck to terrible misfortune.

Omikuji fortune rankings

While wording may vary, omikuji generally have the following rankings:

大吉 (Daikichi) – Great blessing / Excellent luck

中吉 (Chūkichi) – Middle blessing / Good luck

小吉 (Shōkichi) – Small blessing / Moderate luck

吉 (Kichi) – Blessing / Luck

半吉 (Hankichi) – Half blessing / Partial luck

末吉 (Suekichi) – Future blessing / Uncertain luck

凶 (Kyō) – Curse / Bad luck

大凶 (Daikyō) – Great curse / Very bad luck

While daikichi is the best fortune, drawing kyō or daikyō is considered bad luck. However, in Japanese culture, misfortune can be seen as a chance to reflect and improve.

How to draw an omikuji

Visit a shrine or temple – Omikuji are available at most major Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan.

Make a small offering – Typically, you pay 100 to 300 yen at an omikuji box. Some locations use vending machines, while others have wooden drawers.

Draw a slip – Shake a wooden box containing numbered sticks and pull one out. The number corresponds to a drawer where you take your fortune slip.

Read your fortune – The omikuji will have a general fortune ranking and details about different aspects of life.

Tie or keep your omikuji – If you receive bad luck, it’s customary to tie the slip to a designated area at the shrine or temple to leave the misfortune behind. If you get good luck, you can either keep it in your wallet or tie it as well, depending on personal belief.

Where to try omikuji in Japan

Omikuji can be found at almost any shrine or temple, but some famous places include:

• Senso-ji (Tokyo) – One of the most visited temples in Japan, known for its high number of "bad luck" omikuji.

• Meiji Shrine (Tokyo) – A peaceful location where you can draw a unique omikuji with poetic messages instead of traditional rankings.

• Fushimi Inari Taisha (Kyoto) – A popular Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of red torii gates.

• Kiyomizu-dera (Kyoto) – A historic temple offering both traditional and love-related omikuji.

• Osaka Tenmangu Shrine (Osaka) – Known for students seeking academic success, with omikuji focused on studies.

Omikuji are an exciting way to experience Japanese spiritual traditions while visiting shrines and temples. Whether you get great luck or bad luck, these fortune slips remind us that life is full of changes and opportunities for growth. So next time you visit Japan, try drawing an omikuji and see what the future holds!