Try An Omikuji Paper Fortune At Sensoji In Asakusa!

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Senso-ji - the ever-crowded temple in Asakusa is a great place to learn your future via omikuji. There is a rumor about the omikuji paper fortunes at Senso-ji, but what is the truth?

Latest update : 2022.03.11

The Rumor Associated with Senso-ji's Omikuji

Photo by Pixta

Certainly, you will notice many people surrounding around you lamenting their fortunes as they tie their omikuji slips to iron rods. The action of kami wo musubu or tying the paper, is recommended by the temple as a means of sealing your fate. The rumor? Well, here is what the official homepage of Senso-ji has to say:

"We often hear that Senso-ji’s omikuji have lots of bad fortunes in them, but that is just the way that ancient omikuji is."

So why did the rumor of having a high probability of drawing a bad fortune start circulating?

The Reason for the High Rate of Bad Fortune

Senso-ji's omikuji strictly adheres to the traditional method of omikuji that has been handed down since the Heian period, called Kannonhyakusen. According to the ratio of Kannonhyakusen, 30% of the 100 bamboo sticks inserted into the tube are bad fortunes. That does not mean that all temples follow this traditional method though. It seems there is a sequence of events that led to an alteration of the system, as the rates of bad fortune were lowered for the happiness of people drawing the fortunes. This is probably where the story of it being easy to draw a bad fortune at Senso-ji’s omikuji started.

But Senso-ji’s Omikuji is Still Popular!

Regardless of the high probability of a drawing a bad fortune, Senso-ji’s omikuji is exceedingly popular. If you try asking other people, the various reasons often given are “I want to try and draw an excellent fortune at Senso-ji, where the probability of drawing a bad fortune is high”, “I want to know if I’ll really draw a bad fortune”, and so on. Senso-ji explains: “Even if you draw a bad fortune, the actions you take thereafter can alter your luck”. Even if you draw a bad fortune, taking it as a good chance to take a positive look at the life you’ll live from now on without feeling down is important. Won’t you try drawing an omikuji at Senso-ji to predict your fortune?

Information

Senso-ji
Address: Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-3-1
Nearest Station: Asakusa Station (various lines)
Access: 5-10 minute walk from Tokyo Metro, Isesaki, Toei and Tsukuba lines
Phone: 03-3842-0181
Website: Senso-ji

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Written by

OsawaKimie

94年生まれ。神戸出身、東京在住。アメリカからの帰国子女。旅、アート、食が大好きな大学生。

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