Index
What Is an Omamori?
An omamori is a small, colorful charm you can find at almost any shrine or temple in Japan. Usually enclosed in a silk bag with embroidered writing, these charms are believed to offer protection or blessings. There are many types—health, safe travels, good luck in exams, love, fertility, business prosperity—you name it.
Each omamori contains a sacred piece of paper or wood inside, blessed by a Shinto priest or Buddhist monk. And importantly, you’re not supposed to open it. Doing so is thought to release the protective power.
Another tradition is to return the omamori after a year. Shrines usually have collection boxes for old charms, which are then ritually burned. This symbolizes both purification and renewal.
The Origin of Omamori
The tradition of omamori traces back to ancient times when Japanese people believed that natural elements and objects could be inhabited by kami “Shinto gods or spirits”. In time, these protective objects became more formalized. By the Edo period “1603–1868”, omamori were already popularized, and they’ve remained deeply embedded in Japanese culture ever since.
Interestingly, even people who aren’t religious often carry them. It’s less about formal belief and more about showing respect to tradition—or simply finding peace of mind.
What Is an Ema?
Near the main hall of a shrine, you’ll often see a wall or rack covered in small wooden plaques. These are ema, which literally means “picture horse.” Why the name? Because in the past, people donated actual horses to shrines as offerings. Over time, this evolved into giving painted pictures of horses, and eventually into the wooden plaques we see today.
People write their wishes, prayers, or goals on the blank side of an ema and hang it at the shrine in hopes that their wishes will be heard by the gods. Wishes can be personal “I want to pass the university exam” or universal “Peace in the world”.
The illustrations vary: some ema are plain, while others feature animals, zodiac signs, or even anime-style designs—especially at shrines popular among young visitors.
An American Visitor’s Reflection
A traveler from New York shared this with me after visiting Meiji Shrine in Tokyo:
I had seen photos of ema before coming to Japan, but seeing thousands of them in person—each with a handwritten wish—was powerful. Some were funny, some heartbreaking, and some just really human. I didn’t expect to be moved by a piece of wood, but it felt like stepping into a giant room filled with people’s hopes.
She bought an omamori for safe travels and wrote an ema wishing for her little brother’s recovery from surgery.
I’m not even that spiritual, but in that moment, it felt right.
Cultural Nuances of Prayer
Omamori and ema reflect how personal spirituality blends with tradition in Japan. They aren’t strictly religious tools. Instead, they’re part of a wider cultural practice where even a non-religious person might find comfort in a small ritual.
It’s also worth noting the quiet etiquette around these practices: writing your wish in silence, holding the omamori close, or watching it sway gently from a backpack. No one makes a show of it, and yet it holds meaning.
Conclusion: Tiny Tokens, Big Meaning
What might seem like a tourist souvenir is, in fact, a meaningful cultural symbol. Whether you’re writing down a wish or carrying a charm for safety, omamori and ema offer a way to connect to Japan’s centuries-old tradition of hope, protection, and spiritual reflection.
They are tiny—but they carry something very human: the desire to be heard, helped, and remembered.
P.S.
Did you know that ema (votive picture tablet), often seen at shrines, has this meaning? Some people write their prayers, wishes, or favorite characters on ema. I once saw a character named Hijikata Toshizo from the game “Hakuouki” when I visited Kyoto. Perhaps they expressed their prayers by writing their favorite character.
またね(Matane)!
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