Omikuji

Omikuji are fortune-telling paper slips commonly found at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. Visitors typically make a small offering and draw a slip from a box or container containing many fortunes. The slips can be printed or handwritten and may include a short reading in Japanese and sometimes a translation.

The content of omikuji ranges from very favorable to very unfavorable. The fortunes are often categorized from daikichi (great luck) to daikyo (great bad luck), with several intermediate levels. In addition to the overall fortune, the slips usually provide guidance on aspects such as health, studies, business, romance, travel, and general advice for the near future.

Usage and practice vary by site, but a common etiquette is to interpret the fortune and then decide what to do with the slip. If the fortune is bad, it is customary to tie the slip to a tree, a designated rack, or a wire fence at the shrine in the hope that the luck will be left behind or transformed. If the fortune is good, some people keep the slip, while others still leave it at the shrine. Some temples and shrines also offer a ritual disposal, such as burning the slips, during special occasions.

Omikuji have a long history with uncertain origins, but they have become a widespread and recognizable feature of Japanese religious and cultural practice. Variants exist at different sites, and in modern times some omikuji include English translations or other languages for visitors.