How to carry and return omamori
Omamori are charms received at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to bring the protection of the gods and buddhas. In Japanese you don’t “buy” an omamori; you receive it (sazukaru, itadaku).
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1.Kinds of omamori
| Kind | Wish |
|---|---|
| Yakuyoke, mimamori | Ward off misfortune and protect yourself |
| Kaiun, kōun | Good luck in general |
| Enmusubi | Love, good matches, bonds with people |
| Gakugyō jōju, gōkaku kigan | Study and exams |
| Shōbai hanjō, kin’un | Business and the flow of money |
| Kōtsū anzen | Safety on the road and on journeys |
| Anzan, kosazuke | Childbirth and conceiving |
| Kenkō, byōki heiyu | Good health and recovery |
2.How to carry or place them
- Carry it: keep it in your bag or wallet.
- Place it: at home, put it on the household shrine shelf or somewhere clean above eye level.
- Put it where it belongs: a road-safety charm in the car, a study charm by the desk, and so on.
- Don’t open it: the pouch holds a paper talisman or similar inside. Leave it closed.
People in an unlucky year (yakudoshi) often choose a charm against misfortune. Check your unlucky years in the yakudoshi chart (Japanese).
3.How long to keep one
There is no fixed expiry, but the usual practice is to return it after about a year and receive a new one. You return it with thanks for the year and receive a charm for the new year. Charms for a specific purpose, such as passing an exam or a safe birth, are returned with a thank-you visit once the wish has come true.
4.How to return old omamori
- To the shrine or temple you got it from: leave it at the collection point (kofuda-nōsho), and it will later be ritually burned (otakiage), returned to heaven with thanks.
- At a dondo-yaki (sagichō) fire: around Little New Year (January 15), old charms are burned along with the New Year decorations.
- At a nearby shrine or temple: shrine charms to a shrine, temple charms to a temple.
- By post: some shrines and temples accept them.
Adding an offering or a small fee when you return it is more courteous still.
5.Disposing of one at home
If you really can’t return it, one way is to lay the charm on white paper, sprinkle it with salt to purify it, wrap it in the paper and put it out according to your local rubbish rules. Let it go with gratitude.
For zodiac figures and lucky charms, see displaying zodiac figures and lucky charms, and for shrine etiquette, power spots and shrine etiquette.
6.FAQ
Can I carry omamori from different shrines and temples together?
The common view is that Japan’s gods and buddhas don’t quarrel, so carrying several is fine. If it bothers you, keep them separate by purpose.
Where do I return an omamori from a faraway shrine?
Returning it to the shrine you got it from is the most courteous, and some shrines accept them by post. If that is difficult, leave it at the old-charm collection point of a nearby shrine. As a rule, shrine charms go back to a shrine and temple charms to a temple.
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