Hang ema on the designated rack, never open an omamori, return old ones to a shrine
Do
- Buy an ema at the shrine office, write your wish, and hang it on the designated ema rack
- Carry your omamori with you or attach it to your bag
- Return old omamori to a shrine around New Year or on a later visit so it can be ritually burned
- If you draw a bad fortune, tie it at the shrine's designated spot; good fortunes can be taken home
- Views differ on carrying several omamori; if unsure, carry those of only one shrine
Don’t
- Don't hang ema on torii gates, trees or other undesignated places
- Don't write insults or curses against others on an ema
- Don't open an omamori pouch to look at the talisman inside
- Don't throw old omamori in the trash
Ema and omamori are offerings to and blessings from the deities, so hanging them anywhere or throwing them away is seen as disrespectful; by tradition, opening an omamori lets its power escape and it loses its protection.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: UpToGo: Should you carry an omamori with you?