One common tradition in Japan is omikuji (お御籤, おみくじ), which when translated means "sacred lot" and are little slips of paper that tell your fortune. The style of omikuji practiced today was introduced way back in the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333).

Omikuji can be found at temples and shrines across Japan, and often cost 100 yen. Once you give your donation, you are handed a box that has a small hole at one end. Shake the box until a bamboo rod comes out. Each rod has a different number. Look at your number, then find the corresponding drawer and your fortune will be inside!


Some shrines and temples have omikuji vending machines, and others will give your fortune based on colours or your birthday.

The papers are generally folded up quite small, and when unrolled have quite a lengthy prediction. First, look at your general blessing, which can range from Great Blessing to Great Curse.

From there the fortune is broken down to different areas of your life, and gives you a few more details regarding your luck to come, as well as some life advice. The areas examined will change from place to place, but can include love, travel, illness, disputes, and lost items.


When you've absorbed the outcome and advice, it's time to make a decision. If you're happy with your fortune, tuck it into a safe place for keeping. If you're not happy with your fortune, tie it onto a tree or fence (you'll see other unlucky fortunes there, too!) to keep the bad luck away from you.



Get Your Own Omikuji
It's time to see what this year has in store for you! Visit [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to find your fortune.

Once you've selected which areas of your life to look at, click on 御神籤 to get your fortune. Feel free to post and discuss your results here!

Well, at least I didn't get any bad luck.


  EDIT
I did another one with different things I'd be interested in, and wow did I get some bad luck in departments...I already knew I was unlucky in lol.

Question; are there any particular rules to how many you can choose? Can you pick multiple a day, or only a week/month apart? If you pick a new one too soon, are the others voided?

I can't put images in the image holder, so once I get my image on imgur I will put it here.

Tried again and , oh...

Cosmos-Hime wrote:

Question; are there any particular rules to how many you can choose? Can you pick multiple a day, or only a week/month apart? If you pick a new one too soon, are the others voided?

Usually you only choose one while you're at a particular shrine, but as far as I know, there aren't any rules about getting another. I've never thought about it, to be honest! Haha. I would personally say don't do it the same day, at the same shrine, however. Omikuji are seen as messages from the gods, so drawing another just because you don't like what it says defeats the purpose and is disrespectful.

That said, a lot of people get them when they visit a shrine or a temple, so you can definitely get more than one in a week / month / year. Many people also make sure to do omikuji at the start of the new year (it's also customary to visit a shrine or temple within the first few weeks of the new year to pray for good blessings for the year to come).

Half bad luck for love. Tying that one on the fence. :\

I think I'll be putting mine on the fence as well. XD