I've Lived in Tokyo for 20 Years-This Is the 1 Souvenir You Should Never Leave Japan Without
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I've Lived in Tokyo for 20 Years-This Is the 1 Souvenir You Should Never Leave Japan Without
"Japan is a country where you should certainly bring an empty suitcase on a visit. There's such amazing shopping, it's hard to pin down a single must-have souvenir. But there is one little thing I can recommend for any visitor. More culturally meaningful than flavored Kit Kats, easier to get home than the much vaunted Toto Washlet, and certainly cheaper than a Visvim jacket: it is the common, pocket-sized omamori good luckcharm."
"Omamoriare usually sold at shrines and temples. They usually take the form of a little brocade pouch containing a prayer, and you can buy different kinds based on specific needs. For example, there are charms for general good luck or a specific request like safe travel, getting pregnant, finding love, business success, or passing an exam. They are meant to be kept close to the person they protect, so you'll often see them hanging from purses, key chains, and rearview mirrors."
"The practice of wearing protective charms goes back at least a thousand years in Japan. Sutras would be carried in a pouch or scraps of cloth with the name of a god sewn into kimonos. By the 17th century, shrines and temples were selling bits of wood or cloth inscribed with their names or deities. Believers wore them on strings around their necks as talismans against illness and injury. Over time, this evolved into the colorful sachets seen today."
Omamori are pocket-sized brocade pouches sold at shrines and temples that contain prayers for specific needs. They cover general good luck and targeted requests such as safe travel, pregnancy, finding love, business success, or passing exams. Omamori are intended to be kept close, commonly attached to purses, key chains, or rearview mirrors. The practice dates back over a thousand years, evolving from sutras and cloth with deity names to talismans worn on strings by the 17th century. Modern shrines offer specialized omamori for electronics, safe flights, golfers, and often produce unique designs and collaborations.
#omamori #japanese-culture #shrines-and-temples #good-luck-charms
Read at Travel + Leisure
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