Japanese good luck charms: Must-buy souvenirs for you and your loved ones

Throughout history, Japanese culture has remained rich in spirituality and connection to religious beliefs.

Because of these beliefs, Japanese culture has a wide range of traditional of different symbols and figures that are told to bring good fortune and protection.

These charms not only make for great, unique souvenirs, but also act as a way to connect with local heritage and keep protection for you and your loved ones. 

Kokeshi dolls

Originating during the Edo period, kokeshi are traditional wooden folk dolls that were traditionally used as good luck trinkets for children to bring healthy growth.

Differing regions throughout the country determine the dolls’ sizes, shapes, colors, and adorned patterns.

Their simple and traditional look make for a very unique and stand out from more common Western dolls.

They make for a great gift or decoration for anyone, especially for younger children.

Maneki-neko

Maneki-neko, or the beckoning cat, is one of the most famous symbols of Japanese spirituality and culture internationally.

This adorable charm acts as a lucky amulet said to bring good fortune and happiness in business to its owner.

It is believed maneki-neko with a raised right paw attract wealth, whilst a raised left paw attracts prosperity in relationships and business.

You can also find maneki-neko holding additional lucky charms, such as koban, gold coins symbolising wealth, or tai, sea bream symbolising joy.

Omamori

Found at most Shinto and Buddhist temples or shrines, omamori are protective amulets that are said to bring good fortune to their owners in a range of ways.

Varying omamori can be sought out to bring traffic safety, luck with exams, ward off evil spirits, or good health.

They can come in the forms of small cards, figures, or fabric pouches that can all be carried with you. 

They are a great way to memorialise your connection to Japanese culture and spirituality, as well as to stay protected wherever you go.

Daruma omamori bringing prosperity and good fortune

Omikuji

Also found in shrines, omikuji are small fortune slips that act as fortunes and messages from the gods and buddhas.

Simply pay, shake the box while thinking of your wish or what you want to know, pick a stick with a number, and find the omikuji with the matching number.

The fortunes are ranked by levels of luck (from misfortune to a great blessing), and show what to expect regarding your prayer in coming time.

For those not wanted to claim bad luck or misfortune, omikuji can be tied to designated areas to reject the fortune.

Daruma

Daruma are bright red dolls with a very distinct shape and patterns tied to Buddhist beliefs carried on throughout East Asian history.

Most common during the New Year, individuals fill in the left eye when making a wish or prayer, and fill in the second eye when their wish is fulfilled.

These round dolls were shaped after the famous Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, and symbolise the value of “fall down seven times, stand up eight”; to always continued persevering and never give up.

Hariko

Made from layers of papier-mache using Japanese washi paper over a wooden frame, hariko are hollow toys bringing protection against bad luck or to promote recovering from ailment.

Different hariko dolls exist in a range of characters, from cats to faces, all adorned in traditional patterns and designs.

They can come as standing charms or sometimes have bobbing heads.

Ofuda

Ofuda are sacred wooden or paper talismans that contain sacred messages from shrines and temples.

These charms are traditionally thought to prevent bad fortune and welcome in prosperity and good luck instead.

Ofuda containing different inscriptions or from different places of worship are told to bring different blessings, such as household safety or good fortune.

They are a great way to display local heritage and ward off bad spirits for households, a special souvenir for those travelling tp Japan.

Goshuincho

Another great way to remember your travels and connections made, goshuincho are notebooks specifically designed to collect goshuin stamps from places of worship in Japan.

Each goshuin is different, with specific designs and inscriptions or symbols unique to that shrine or temple in particular.

They represent the spirits enshrined in the temple or shrine, and also have the date of the visit.

Goshuincho can be bought in stationery stores or at sites of worship, and come in a variety of designs from plain colors to traditional Japanese designs featuring iconic symbols such as cherry blossoms or Mt Fuji.

The notebooks open up accordion-style to show the collection of stamps as a display, and act as a great way to memorialise each visit.

Goshuincho available at staionery stores with traditional Japanese animal designs

 There’s so much left to explore..

These charms are only the tip of the iceberg! Japan has so many more spiritual amulets and symbols to explore, with each region housing something unique and special of its own.

Book with TokudAw to make sure you get a chance to see each place on your bucket list and find out about experience you may not have heard of before! Our private in-house transport team will drive you to each destination and make sure you have a safe and comfortable ride.