The most curious Japanese superstitions you should know
Japan is a distinctive land, made of contrasts: unspoiled nature and giant metropolises, wild forests and almost tropical beaches, modernity and tradition. It's a country where past and present coexist in ancient beliefs, folklore and popular superstitions that shape everyday life, often discreetly but meaningfully. They represent a truly interesting cultural heritage for any traveler, because they offer a glimpse into how the Japanese interpret the world, fate and fortune. So let's discover some of these Japanese superstitions, ones worth knowing if you're planning a trip to Japan in winter or in any other season.
Japanese superstitions tied to numbers, symbols and "homophone words"
The Japanese language is characterized by many homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings. This peculiarity also explains why kanji have survived over time, since in a written text they're the only way to distinguish phonetically identical words.
When it comes to Japanese superstitions, the most emblematic cases of homophony involve numbers. In particular, the number 4 (四). One reading of the kanji for 4 is "shi" (the other is "yon"), which is also the reading of the kanji for death (死), which is why it's considered an unlucky number. The Japanese superstition around this number is so strong that in hospitals, hotels or buildings it's common for the "4th floor" not to exist. The number 9 (九), "ku", is also avoided by many: its pronunciation recalls "ku" (苦) meaning suffering/pain, associating it with bad luck.
Some number combinations, such as 42 ("shi" and "ni"), are avoided because they evoke the verb "shinu", to die, or other death-related terms. Conversely, some numbers are associated with good fortune, prosperity and happy occasions. For example, the kanji for 8 (八) has a shape that widens toward the bottom, evoking the idea of suehirogari, fortune that expands and keeps growing.
Age, "unlucky" years and times of the year
Let's talk about numbers again, but this time about age. One of the most deeply rooted Japanese superstitions concerns years considered critical, which call for attention, caution or protective rituals. This concept is called yakudoshi.
For men, the most common "unlucky" ages are 25, 42 and 61; for women, 19, 33 and 37 (though variations differ by region). In particular, 42 for men and 33 for women are considered "years of great calamity" (大厄 – daiyaku), potentially dangerous. Those reaching these ages often choose to visit a temple or shrine for a purification rite, or buy an omamori, to seek protection or attract good fortune.
Moving on to lucky ages, we should mention 3, 5 and 7 years old. There's a festival called "Shichi‑Go‑San" (literally "3-5-7"), which celebrates children's growth, particularly girls aged 3 and 7 and boys aged 3 and 5. The choice of numbers isn't random: 3, 5 and 7 are often considered lucky.
There's also a belief concerning how each year will go. It's hatsuyume, the "first dream of the year". It's said that dreaming of certain images on the first night of the year, between January 1st and 2nd, foretells prosperity and good fortune. What are these images? Mount Fuji, a hawk or an eggplant. The origin of these particular images isn't entirely clear, but it hardly matters: what counts is dreaming them.
Taboos, gestures and rules of good (or bad) luck in daily life
It's not just about numbers: many Japanese superstitions revolve around gestures, everyday behaviors, and common objects.
A very important example for when you're traveling in Japan and find yourself at a restaurant or someone's home for lunch or dinner concerns chopsticks. Hashi should never be stuck upright in a bowl of rice. This gesture is considered taboo, because it's only done with food offerings to the deceased during funerals. Positioning chopsticks this way is therefore equivalent to invoking death. Equally important is not passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks: this gesture too recalls funeral rituals related to cremation, and should be avoided.
Related to death, but with a protective purpose, is the gesture of hiding your thumb when a hearse passes by. In Japanese, thumb is "oyayubi", meaning "parent's finger", so hiding your thumb symbolically "protects" your parents from death or misfortune.
If you absolutely don't want to attract evil spirits, remember there are certain activities you should never do at night. Among these, whistling and cutting your nails! According to superstition, cutting your nails at night brings bad luck or even shortens your life.
Also related to nighttime is the position you sleep in: sleeping with your head facing north is considered unlucky, because the deceased are traditionally buried with their heads in that direction.
Animals and nature: signs and omens
In Japanese folk tradition, animals and natural phenomena can take on a symbolic value tied to luck, omens, protection or misfortune.
Unlike many Western cultures, in Japan a black cat crossing the street can be considered a good omen, not a sign of bad luck. Also, seeing a spider in the morning is considered lucky, or can mean that someone is thinking of you or that you'll have unexpected visitors. However, seeing a spider at night can be a sign of misfortune. Also, seeing a group of crows can be interpreted as an announcement of bad news.
Fortune, amulets, rituals and "fortune slips"
It might seem like many Japanese superstitions are pessimistic. In reality, there are numerous symbols, rites and objects meant to attract fortune or ensure protection.
Among the amulets you'll surely come across during your trip to Japan are omamori, small items sold at temples and shrines (Shinto or Buddhist), designed to bring good luck, protection, health, success in exams, safe travels, love, prosperity, and so on. Many Japanese carry them or give them as gifts at important moments.
When visiting temples you can also draw an omikuji, a fortune slip that predicts luck in various areas (health, love, money, travel, destiny). If the prediction is negative, tradition holds that you should tie it to a tree or a string in the temple courtyard, the idea being to "leave" the bad luck there. If it's positive, many people keep it as a lucky charm. It's a simple tradition that helps you immerse yourself in Japanese popular spirituality.
On the other hand, remember to never give a comb as a gift to a Japanese person, as it's considered a bad omen. As seen before, it's all about pronunciation: in Japanese, comb is "kushi", a term that recalls words related to death or suffering.
Interpretations: where do these superstitions come from?
To understand why certain beliefs survive, it helps to look at Japan's religious and spiritual history: animist, Shinto and Buddhist elements have shaped popular sensibility, leading to the development of a close relationship between people and nature, spirits, death, and ancestors. A legacy that survives despite the modernity that defines the country. If, on one hand, the Japanese live among towering skyscrapers and travel on ultra-fast Shinkansen, on the other they still find poetry in the blooming of sakura or in autumn momiji , and perceive omens in animals and other phenomena.
As for taboos, however, many are tied to concepts of impurity and spiritual energy, also rooted in religious tradition. Certain gestures or actions are seen as opening the door to misfortune or negative energy. At the same time, the search for protection and fortune through amulets, rituals and symbols shows how the Japanese seek balance, control over destiny, hope, and how much they respect ancient traditions.
As we've seen, many superstitions also arise from linguistic connections, particularly from cases where numbers and words sound similar to terms related to death and suffering.
Knowing these Japanese superstitions can be truly useful while traveling in Japan, helping you move with respect and awareness. For example, when entering a ryokan or someone's home, when eating with others, when giving a gift or visiting a temple. But they're also a way to access a different cultural language, made of nuance, delicacy, and meanings that endure over time. Learning them all is a challenge, but if you travel the country with a good internet connection you can always check online to clear up any doubts or uncertainties. That's why it's worth activating a Japanese SIM or eSIM before you leave so you have continuous access to the web and can not only do research but also book trains, restaurants, hotels and other services.
