An exploration of enduring Japanese cultural beliefs and taboos that influence travel decisions, from choosing auspicious flight dates to selecting room numbers and avoiding specific travel times.
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While Friday the 13th is Western, Tuesday the 13th (Juuka no Sanchi) holds a similar superstition in Japan, particularly associated with illness and bad luck. Some travelers may delay trips scheduled for this day, reflecting a deep-seated cultural caution regarding specific numeric combinations and days of the week.
The number four (shi) sounds like death, leading many hotels and airlines to omit the fourth floor or seat row entirely. Travelers often prefer rooms or seats on other floors to avoid the ominous association, even if the building has more than four physical floors.
Many Japanese people consult Etsuiri, an ancient calendar system of lucky and unlucky days, before planning long-distance trips. This traditional practice aims to align travel with positive energy, with some consulting online calculators or temples to ensure the chosen dates are favorable.
A widespread belief suggests that people born on the Day of the Horse (Uma no Hi) bring bad luck to their families, particularly affecting their mothers. This superstition, known as Uma no Hi, can influence life choices, including when to travel or move, for those born under this sign.
Senbon-sen is a traditional wooden grid with 99 or 101 lines. Travelers often avoid stepping directly on the lines, as it is believed to invite bad luck or misfortune. This superstition is commonly seen in shrines, temples, and sometimes public spaces where such grids are laid out.
It is believed that starting a trip at twilight (tasogare) invites evil spirits or bad fortune. Travelers often plan to arrive at their destination before dusk or depart well before sunset, adhering to the cultural taboo that the boundary between day and night is spiritually vulnerable.
Opening an umbrella indoors is considered bad luck and a nuisance to spirits. While not strictly travel-related, it affects how visitors conduct themselves in ryokans and hotels, where keeping umbrellas dry and closed outside the door is a common practice to respect household spirits.
The word for pear (nashi) sounds like 'nothing' or 'no result,' making it an inauspicious gift for travelers visiting friends or business partners. Travelers may avoid bringing pears or pear-based products as souvenirs to prevent implying that their efforts or relationships will come to nothing.
When eating soba, a traditional travel food, travelers are advised not to cut noodles, as breaking them symbolizes a broken life or severed relationships. This etiquette is strictly observed by older generations and influences dining choices during journey stops at traditional restaurants.
The number nine (ku) sounds like suffering or pain, making it an unlucky number in some contexts. While less pervasive than the number four, some travelers may avoid room numbers or train seats containing nine, especially when combined with other unlucky digits, to ensure a smooth journey.
It is believed that sleeping with wet hair allows evil spirits to enter the body, potentially causing illness. Travelers staying in ryokans or hotels may be cautious about drying their hair before bed, especially if traveling during colder seasons or staying in older wooden structures.
Sticking chopsticks vertically into rice resembles funeral rituals for the dead, making it highly inauspicious. Travelers dining on the go or in casual settings are careful to place chopsticks properly, as this taboo is deeply ingrained and can cause offense or bad luck if violated.
Some believe that cats can see spirits, and taking photos of them at night might capture unwanted entities. This superstition influences travel behavior, particularly in rural areas or villages where stray cats are common, with some travelers choosing to avoid photographing them after dark.
Beyond the number four, some floors are labeled with kanji or alternative numbers to avoid unlucky associations. Travelers may prefer floors with symbols like 'gold' or 'fortune,' or those labeled in katakana, to ensure a positive and safe travel experience during their stay.
Whistling at night is believed to summon evil spirits or cause financial loss. Travelers in shared accommodations or on overnight trains may refrain from whistling, adhering to this taboo to maintain harmony and avoid attracting negative energy during their journey.
While green tea is a popular souvenir, giving it as a gift can be seen as inauspicious if wrapped in certain colors or given in specific contexts. Travelers may choose white or gold packaging to avoid associations with mourning, ensuring their gifts are well-received by hosts.
While many travel for festivals, some avoid Kyoto during Gion Matsuri due to perceived bad luck or overcrowding. Superstitions suggest that the influx of spirits during the festival can cause disturbances, leading cautious travelers to schedule trips outside this busy July period.
Wearing red shoes indoors is sometimes associated with bad luck or attracting negative energy. Travelers staying in traditional lodgings may remove outdoor shoes carefully, and if red footwear is worn, they may be more mindful to keep them out of living spaces to respect local customs.
Though not traditionally Japanese, the influence of Western media has introduced avoidance of the number 666 in some modern contexts. Travelers may skip floors or rooms with this sequence, especially in international hotels, reflecting a blend of global and local superstitions affecting travel choices.
Mirrors are believed to trap souls or bring bad luck if given as gifts. Travelers may avoid buying or bringing mirrors back as souvenirs, preferring items like keychains or snacks that are seen as neutral or positive, to ensure their gifts do not carry hidden negative meanings.