Posts by Jin-journey Editorial Team

What is omikuji? Learn how to draw and read Japanese fortune slips, what Daikichi and Kyo mean, fortune rankings, and whether to keep or tie

What is a torii gate in Japan? Learn what torii mean, why many are red, common styles, why shrines have multiple gates, and how to[…]

Can’t read the Japanese on an omamori? Learn how different wishes like health, recovery, longevity, enmusubi and ryoen differ—and how to ask for the right

Can you have more than one omamori from different shrines? Learn whether kami “fight,” how long to keep an omamori, and what to do if[…]

What does kami mean in Shinto? Learn why kami are not simply “gods,” what eight million kami means, whether nature and people can be kami,[…]

Can someone else get a goshuin for you in Japan? Learn what goshuin represent, why bulk proxy collection can cause problems, and why some shrines[…]

Can you visit a Shinto shrine without praying? Yes. Learn why people also visit shrines for festivals, culture, goshuin, scenery, and how to enjoy them

Why do people clap at Shinto shrines in Japan? Learn what the two claps mean, why some shrines differ, and why you normally should not[…]

Do you really need a 5-yen coin at a Japanese shrine? Learn why 5 yen is considered lucky, other popular offering amounts, and how much[…]

Do you have to bow at a torii gate in Japan? Learn why people bow, how to do it, whether to bow when leaving, and[…]