How to Read Omikuji

A typical omikuji, or fortune slip, in Japan.

A popular thing to do when visiting a shrine or temple in Japan is to draw an “omikuji”, or fortune slip. These are not your average fortune printed at some factory sitting inside your fortune cookie (whose origins can be traced back to tsujiura senbei (辻占煎餅) in Kyoto, Japan).

Tsujiura senbei, the world's first fortune cookie

Omikuji are highly detailed fortunes with full explanations and analysis of love, health, business, and so forth, more akin to your daily horoscope. That being said, not all fortunes are good luck! Be prepared for some bad news, the kind predicting you’ll be having the worst year of your life. After all, omikuji aren’t rolled inside sweet vanilla-flavored cookies.

Once you’ve worked up the nerve to take on “your fate”, follow these steps for reading your omikuji.

Step 1: Visit any temple or shrine and look for a sign that says “mikuji”.

Mikuji at a temple or shrine.

Temples and shrines can be found all over Japan, even in residential areas. Many have entrance fees, but not all. Look for the sign that says みくじ.

Step 2: Purchase the omikuji.

Put your 100 yen coin in here.

Omikuji used to be offered at temples and shrines for a donation, usually a five yen coin which is considered lucky due to the hole in the center. Nowadays a mere five yen (just under 5 cents!) is considered a pretty crummy donation, so omikuji run for about 100 yen. Donations of 50, 100, and 200 yen are also considered lucky if the amount is not specified. Simply deposit the coin into the designated box or slot. It works on an honors system, so there is no formal changing of money. If you are short on coins the staff will probably be more than happy to break a bill for you. The mikuji are to be drawn at random from numbered sticks in a box labeled “mikuji”.

Step 3: Shake the omikuji box so as to randomize your “fate”.

If you wish you can pray for a good fortune while you are doing this.

Step 4: Draw one of the numbered sticks.

Your fate will be revealed!

The box is specially designed so that only one stick will come out of the hole.

Step 5: Find the number on the end of the stick.

Find the number on the stick.

It will be written in Japanese, but a basic knowledge of kanji (Chinese characters) will suffice. If you need help you can always just give it to the attendant to help you. Here’s a breakdown of numbers 1-10 written in Japanese kanji.

Step 6: Take the mikuji paper from the drawer matching the number on the stick.

Fortune slips are kept safely inside here.

At this point your fate is already decided, so no need to rifle through hoping you’ll get something good; each fortune is exactly the same as the others in that drawer.

Step 7: Return the stick to the designated area.

Step 8: Locate the kanji below “omikuji” to find your fortune.

Here comes the fun part! It’s like deciphering a secret code, as it will almost definitely be written in Japanese. Some temples or shrines at popular tourist destinations may have a chart of English translations on how to read it or offer assistance, but let’s assume you’re at any old shrine.

If you can read Japanese, you'll find this explanation helpful.

You’ll find your overall fortune written at the top under みくじ. Note: omikuji are considered the “divine will” from god; thus you are not allowed to keep on trying for a better fortune to change your fate! This is not a vending machine (although there are omikuji vending machines!). You will see one of the following:

Omikuji Translations
大吉	Great blessing
中吉	Middle blessing
小吉	Small blessing
吉	Blessing
半吉	Half-blessing
末吉	Future blessing (good fortune but you'll have to wait)
末小吉	Small future blessing
凶	Curse
小凶	Small curse
半凶	Half-curse
末凶	Future curse
大凶	Great curse

They are divided into two main kanji, 吉 kichi (blessing) and 凶 kyou (curse). Daikichi 大吉 is the best, followed by chuukichi 中吉, shoukichi 小吉, and kichi 吉. Then there’s hankichi 半吉, suekichi 末吉, and sueshoukichi 末小吉. Now for the bad luck: kyou 凶, followed by shoukyou 小凶, hankyou 半凶, suekyou 末凶, and the very worst, daikyou 大凶.

Step 9: Read the additional information if you have Japanese ability, or ask someone who speaks Japanese to help you.

Thank goodness for the English translation!

Omikuji typically display the following: number, overall fortune, explanation and commentary on the fortune, a classic poem, and additional fortune in areas such as health, love, aspirations, work, business, study, and travel. The latter ones will require a pretty high level of Japanese proficiency, so don’t feel bad if you can’t figure it out.

Luckily, there are certain locations where English omikuji are available: Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo), Narita-san Shinsho-ji temple (Chiba Prefecture), Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine (Kanagawa Prefecture), Nishiki Tenmangu shrine (Kyoto), and Kushida-jinja shrine (Fukuoka Prefecture).

Step 10: If it is a bad fortune, tie it onto a tree or one of the designated areas.

Where all bad fortunes go.

You can take it home if you like, but most people prefer to leave it where they bought it so the bad luck won’t follow them home. If you got a good fortune, congrats! Never part with it, sleep with it under your pillow, pull it out when you’re having a bad day, etc.

Of course whether or not omikuji have any credence is up to you, just like with fortune cookies. Nowadays most Japanese people don’t put too much stock in it but simply enjoy the fun of it. Regardless, it’s a fun traditional Japanese activity and a cheap souvenir!