![]() Quite the obvious choice no doubt! I chose this pack of chopsticks in Hakone as each pair features a view of Mt Fuji by one of my favourite artists, Hokusai. The second image includes an ema (wooden wishing plaque) from Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, a Geisha keychain I bought on Takeshita Street Harajuku (although the tag says Asakusa) and a lantern from Nakamise-dori, the shopping street leading up to Senso-ji, Tokyo. ![]() ![]() IT Card omamori from Kanda Shrine, Tokyo.Yellow pouch from Senso-ji in Tokyo and the purple from Myoryu-ji in Kanazawa.Blue pouch and rare porcelain omamori amulet from Japan’s porcelain capital, Arita.Pictured below are just a few pieces from my omamori collection: You can find omamori at various shrines, temples and shopping arcades throughout Japan. Omamori can also come in the form of small silk bags with a prayer inside. Today there are omamori for almost everything you can think of, from the more traditional kinds such as prosperity and happiness to more modern variations for safe driving and cyber-security! Spiritual leaders thought the idea of symbolically placing power of the gods into these hanging items would help protect believers and bring good luck. With origins from both Shintoism and Buddhism, their purpose is to drive away evil spirits with the attached bells and guard their owners from misfortune. These pocket-sized items are very popular with both locals and tourists alike. While omamori お守り is a general term for Japanese lucky charms, they come in different kinds. For me, Christmas is a time of reflecting and appreciating all the good things from the year(s) that have passed and these pieces represent a journey and fond memories. While I have some tsuko-tegata on permanent display at home, I save others as decorations for my Christmas tree each year. As a typography lover, I couldn’t resist the hand-painted calligraphy… Isn’t it simply gorgeous? Pictured below are mine from Istukushima Shrine (Miyajima, left) and Nara (right). They have a bell and braided string attached. Today, tsuko-tegata can be found at various temples, shrines, hot spring resorts and are a symbol or “proof” that you have visited. To allow passage from one provence to another, travellers needed to present a tsuko-tegata to prove they had authorisation to pass through. During the Edo period, travel between the different regions of the country was strictly monitored. Tsuko-tegata 通行手形 or “wooden passports” represent an ancient custom in Japan. To get you inspired and to know what to keep an eye out for when you’re souvenir shopping in Japan, here are some of my personal favourites: Wooden Souvenirs from Japan Tsuko-Tegata It’s always good to know the significance behind each of the items you plan on purchasing as they become more meaningful gifts. Where do we start?! Japan is a country that has maintained its rich cultural heritage throughout history and many of the below souvenirs reflect this. If you want to learn my strategies for how to “blend in” anywhere around the globe to enrich your trip, find out by reading my #1 Amazon New Release Book! Need help choosing what to buy in Japan? So how does staying longer at your destination and not using Airbnb help? My article about how to travel and avoid contributing to overtourism issues has 10 simple tricks you can use on your next trip. Go to Next page to continue with the origami kusudama flower instructions.Heads up! Overtourism is becoming an increasing problem throughout the world. Step 6: Repeat step 5 for the right side as well so that you have two squashed sides. Step 5: Unfold the left side and insert a finger into the pocket of that flap, then squash down as shown. Step 4: Take the flaps you just folded and fold them outward to the left and right edges of the diamond. Step 3: Fold the triangle into a diamond by folding the left and right corners to the top. Step 2: Fold the paper into a triangle by folding the bottom corner to the top corner. ![]() Step 1: Start with a square piece of origami paper with color side down, but if you only have regular 8.5x11 paper, follow these instructions to make a square sheet. Each petal is made with one sheet of paper. However, you do need a total of five pieces of paper because this flower is actually made up of five petals. The origami kusudama flower is undeniably beautiful and appears complex and difficult to make, but surprisingly there are only a few steps to it. ![]() Follow the steps below to make this Origami Kusudama Flower. ![]()
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