Drawing Omikuji at Shichi-Go-San: How Kids Can Enjoy Omikuji

During Shichi-Go-San (the Seven-Five-Three festival) shrine visits, attention tends to focus on the prayer ceremony and chitose-ame (thousand-year candy), but drawing omikuji can also become an unforgettable experience for children. Recently, more shrines are offering “kodomo mikuji” (children’s omikuji) and cute animal-shaped omikuji designed specifically for young visitors. This article provides a detailed guide on how to enjoy omikuji at Shichi-Go-San, the types of children’s omikuji available, and tips for making the family’s shrine visit more memorable.

Drawing Omikuji at a Shichi-Go-San Visit Is Perfectly Fine

Some parents hesitate, thinking, “Is it okay to draw omikuji when the main purpose is the Shichi-Go-San prayer ceremony?” The answer is that there is absolutely no problem with drawing omikuji during a Shichi-Go-San visit.

Shichi-Go-San is “a life ceremony celebrating the healthy growth of children,” expressing gratitude to the local guardian deity and ancestors and praying for continued healthy development (Source: Association of Shinto Shrines). Omikuji are a means of receiving messages from the divine, and drawing one after the prayer ceremony is a natural continuation of receiving guidance from the deity.

In fact, drawing omikuji at the milestone of Shichi-Go-San provides children with a precious experience of engaging with shrine culture. The memory of “drawing omikuji at a shrine” stays in one’s heart even into adulthood.

Children’s Omikuji Are Growing in Popularity at Shrines Across Japan

In recent years, an increasing number of shrines offer “kodomo mikuji” — omikuji designed for children to enjoy. While standard omikuji contain many kanji characters and classical expressions that are difficult for small children, children’s omikuji use hiragana (simple Japanese characters) and illustrations to convey fortune in easy-to-understand language.

Main Types of Children’s Omikuji

Type	Features	Recommended Age
Kodomo Mikuji	Written in hiragana with illustrations. Uses simple, child-friendly language	Ages 3 to lower elementary
Animal Omikuji	Omikuji tucked inside ceramic or toy animals shaped like sea bream, deer, or rabbits	All ages
Water Omikuji	Text appears when dipped in water. Children enjoy it like a science experiment	Ages 5+
Zodiac Omikuji	Comes with a small figurine of that year’s zodiac animal. Doubles as a keepsake	All ages
Fishing Omikuji	Use a small fishing rod to “catch” sea bream-shaped omikuji. A game-like experience	Ages 3+

Children’s omikuji typically cost 100 to 500 yen as hatsuho-ryo (offering). Prices are similar to regular omikuji, or slightly higher for types that include animal figurines.

How to Find Shrines with Children’s Omikuji

Not every shrine offers children’s omikuji. Checking in advance when choosing your Shichi-Go-San shrine helps add enjoyment to the day:

• Check the shrine’s official website or social media for mentions of “kodomo mikuji” or “animal mikuji”
• Shichi-Go-San special pages often include information about available offerings
• Search review sites and social media for “[Shrine name] omikuji children”
• Call the shrine directly and ask, “Do you have children’s omikuji available for Shichi-Go-San?”

(Even if children’s omikuji are not available, reading a regular omikuji together with your child is a perfectly valid way to enjoy it. In fact, the time spent together figuring out what “Machibito” (awaiting person) means may become the most memorable part of Shichi-Go-San.)

The Way to Enjoy Omikuji Changes with Each Shichi-Go-San Age

Shichi-Go-San celebrates ages 3, 5, and 7, and the way children engage with omikuji naturally differs by age. Knowing age-appropriate ways to enjoy omikuji helps ensure a smooth shrine visit.

Age 3 Shichi-Go-San (Kamioki no Gi — Hair-Growing Ceremony)

The age-3 celebration, “kamioki,” originates from the ceremony of letting a child’s previously shaved hair grow out. At this age, children cannot yet understand omikuji content on their own.

• Choose visually cute options like animal-shaped omikuji to delight the child
• Let the child enjoy the physical act of “drawing” the omikuji
• Read the content aloud and say something like “Something good is going to happen for you today!”
• Small animal figurines from omikuji make great Shichi-Go-San keepsakes

For 3-year-olds, what matters is not the omikuji content but the memory of “having had a special experience at a shrine.” Wearing a kimono, receiving chitose-ame, and holding a cute animal omikuji — this entire experience becomes the first step toward familiarity with shrine culture.

Age 5 Shichi-Go-San (Hakamagi no Gi — First Hakama Ceremony)

The age-5 celebration, “hakamagi,” originates from the ceremony where a boy wears hakama (formal Japanese trousers) for the first time. By age 5, many children can read hiragana and understand kodomo mikuji content to some extent.

• Let the child try reading a kodomo mikuji (written in hiragana) on their own
• Explain the meaning of “daikichi” and “kichi” in simple terms (“Super good!” and “Good!”)
• If water omikuji are available, the appearing-text experience makes a strong impression
• Fishing omikuji and other game-like types are especially popular

Five-year-olds feel a special sense of significance in “choosing for themselves” and “drawing by themselves.” Reaching into the omikuji box and selecting one — that small “adventure” can become an unforgettable moment of Shichi-Go-San.

Age 7 Shichi-Go-San (Obitoki no Gi — Sash-Changing Ceremony)

The age-7 celebration, “obitoki,” originates from the ceremony of transitioning from a child’s string-tied kimono to an adult-style kimono with a proper obi (sash). By age 7, children can understand the content of regular omikuji to a reasonable extent.

• Try a regular omikuji and read the content together with a parent
• Focus on the “Studies” section to raise awareness about school life
• Use the omikuji as a starting point for an “omikuji diary” where the child records results in a notebook
• If a waka poem is included, look up its meaning together

Age 7 is when the world of learning expands as a school student. If reading the “Studies” section of the omikuji motivates the child to think, “I want to study harder,” then the omikuji has served an educational purpose. (The waka poem on omikuji is not an “extra” but rather is sometimes considered the true heart of the omikuji. The time spent researching its meaning together as parent and child is among the richest forms of learning.)

How to Preserve Shichi-Go-San Omikuji as a “Growth Record”

Shichi-Go-San offers up to three milestones at ages 3, 5, and 7. Drawing and saving omikuji at each one creates a “growth record” that lets you reflect on how fortune changed alongside the child’s development.

Specific Ways to Preserve Omikuji

Preservation Method	Advantages	Notes
Tuck into a photo album alongside Shichi-Go-San photos	Vivid memories when looking back with photos	Paper deteriorates easily; use clear pockets for protection
Take a photo with your smartphone and save digitally	No risk of loss; accessible anytime	Can get buried in your photo library; create a dedicated album
Paste into an “omikuji notebook”	Can also record the date, shrine name, and child’s thoughts	Commercial omikuji books or scrapbooks are convenient
Post on social media as a record	Easy to share with family and relatives; past posts serve as a timeline	Be cautious with personal information; posting only omikuji content is safest

Placing the “daikichi” omikuji drawn at age 3 side by side with the one drawn at age 7 — in that moment, feeling the growth together as parent and child with a “Look how much you’ve grown” is a gift unique to Shichi-Go-San.

It Is Also Important for Parents to Draw Omikuji at Shichi-Go-San

While Shichi-Go-San is a children’s event, we recommend that parents draw omikuji too. An omikuji drawn with wishes for your child’s growth serves as guidance for parenting and family life.

Drawing Together Makes It a “Family Event”

Instead of only the child drawing omikuji, having parents draw too and sharing the results transforms the Shichi-Go-San visit into an even more enjoyable event. “Dad got chukichi!” “Mom got daikichi!” — this kind of family excitement is a unique charm of omikuji.

Omikuji are originally not about competing over good or bad fortune, but about receiving “advice that you need right now.” However, sharing results as a family naturally sparks conversation and creates opportunities to understand each other’s feelings. To elevate Shichi-Go-San from a mere “ceremony” to a “family memory,” omikuji are the perfect accessory.

Including Grandparents Creates Three-Generation Memories

Grandparents often accompany families to Shichi-Go-San. Drawing omikuji across three generations and comparing results is another wonderful way to celebrate. For grandparents too, the memory of drawing omikuji together with grandchildren becomes a treasure.

“The year Grandpa drew daikichi was the year his grandchild grew the most.” Such episodes may be passed down as family stories for years to come.

Timing of Shichi-Go-San Visits and Omikuji

While the official date for Shichi-Go-San is November 15, in recent years more families visit between mid-October and early December to avoid crowds. This period also offers several advantages for drawing omikuji:

Benefits of Drawing Omikuji During the Shichi-Go-San Season

• With year-end approaching, the omikuji can be read as “fortune for the coming year”
• Autumn’s mild weather makes it pleasant to stroll shrine grounds and enjoy omikuji leisurely
• Some shrines prepare special omikuji for the Shichi-Go-San season
• Overlapping with the autumn foliage season creates photogenic memories

Drawing omikuji at both Shichi-Go-San and hatsumode creates a family habit of visiting shrines at least twice a year. If children grow up with positive impressions that “shrines are special places” and “omikuji are fun,” they will naturally continue the habit of shrine visits into adulthood.

How to Handle It When Your Child Draws Kyo (Bad Fortune)

If a child draws “kyo” (bad fortune) at Shichi-Go-San, many parents worry about how to explain it. Even adults feel a bit down when drawing kyo, so the impact on a child can be even greater.

Frame Kyo as a “Be Careful” Message from the Deity

When a child draws kyo, there is no need to tell them it is a “bad result.” Telling them “This means the deity is saying ‘Please be careful’” helps the child accept kyo positively.

In truth, “kyo” on omikuji implies “you are at the bottom, so things can only go up from here.” Kyo is not “the worst fate” but “advice that things will improve if you act carefully.” Teaching this perspective from a young age builds a mental foundation for facing difficulties positively later in life.

Specific Responses When a Child Draws Kyo

• Reassure them: “It’s okay. If you are careful, good things will come”
• Go together to the musubi-sho (tying spot) and explain, “When you tie it here, things turn in a good direction”
• If the child cries, letting them draw another omikuji is one option. There is no strict rule against redrawing on the same day
• Connect it to future hope: “Since kyo came out, maybe something even better will come next time”

Shichi-Go-San ages are 3, 5, and 7 — ages at which children do not yet fully understand enough to be deeply hurt by omikuji results. What matters most is the parent’s reaction. If the parent responds calmly and positively, the child will carry the impression that “omikuji are fun” as their Shichi-Go-San memory.

Popular Omikuji Spots for Shichi-Go-San

When choosing where to go for Shichi-Go-San, including shrines with excellent children’s omikuji in your options can dramatically increase the fun of the visit. Here are representative shrines popular for their children’s omikuji:

Shrine	Location	Children’s Omikuji Features
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine	Kawagoe, Saitama	“Tai mikuji” (sea bream omikuji) caught with a fishing rod are hugely popular with kids. Red for matchmaking, pink for romance
Kasuga Taisha	Nara, Nara	Deer-shaped “shika mikuji.” Combined with the real deer on the grounds, children are thrilled
Shimogamo Shrine	Kyoto, Kyoto	“Mizu mikuji” (water omikuji) where text appears when floated on water. Children enjoy it like a science experiment
Sumiyoshi Taisha	Osaka, Osaka	Comprehensive Shichi-Go-San prayer services with abundant children’s offerings
Meiji Jingu	Shibuya, Tokyo	Unique “Omikokoro” omikuji with no fortune ranking — only waka poetry messages

The shrines listed above also have extensive experience with Shichi-Go-San prayer services, and many have staff accustomed to children’s kimono dressing and photography. Choosing a shrine that offers a fulfilling overall Shichi-Go-San experience, not just omikuji, is recommended.

In Closing

Shichi-Go-San is an important event celebrating children’s healthy growth, and incorporating omikuji can make it an even more enjoyable and memorable day. A cute animal omikuji at age 3, a kodomo mikuji the child can read at age 5, and a regular omikuji challenge at age 7 — the ability to choose age-appropriate ways to enjoy omikuji is part of their charm. When parents and children share their results and save them alongside photos, those omikuji become a growth record that will bring smiles to the family for years to come.

At Omikuji Sando, you can draw your personalized fortune based on your date of birth across 12 levels every day for free. Why not start a daily omikuji habit as a family while looking back on your Shichi-Go-San memories?