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Ema in Japan: what are wooden wish plaques and how do they work?
When visiting shrines and temples in Japan, you may notice rows of wooden plaques covered in handwritten messages. These are ema (絵馬), a traditional way for people to express wishes, prayers, or intentions to the gods.
Ema are simple, symbolic, and deeply tied to Japanese spirituality. Here is what they are, what people write on them, and how to use them properly during your trip.
What is an ema?
An ema is a small wooden plaque sold at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan.
The word ema literally means “picture horse.” In ancient Japan, people offered real horses to the gods as valuable gifts when asking for protection or blessings. Over time, symbolic wooden plaques replaced live animals, making the practice accessible to everyone.
Today, visitors write wishes on ema and hang them at the shrine so the kami or Buddhist deities may receive them.
What do people write on ema?
There are no strict rules. People write what matters most to them at that moment. Common wishes include:
Success in studies or exams
Career goals or financial stability
Love and relationships
Health and protection
Safe travels
Personal dreams or intentions
Some messages are very short, others detailed or poetic. Writing your name and date is common but optional.
How to use an ema step by step
Buy an ema
Ema are sold at shrine or temple stalls, usually for 500 to 1,000 yenWrite your wish
Use the pens provided and write on the blank sideHang the ema
Attach it to the wooden rack with the othersTake a quiet moment
Many people bow or pause silently before leaving
Once hung, ema are traditionally left behind. Shrines later burn them during ritual ceremonies.
Ema designs and their meanings
Each shrine has its own ema design, often linked to the type of wishes people make there.
Common motifs include:
Animals: zodiac signs, foxes at Inari shrines, cranes for longevity
Hearts or couples at love-related shrines
Torii gates or deities symbolizing spiritual connection
Nature and seasonal symbols representing renewal and balance
Some shrines offer special ema dedicated to specific wishes such as exams, relationships, or health.
Why ema matter
Ema are not souvenirs.
They are a moment of intention, reflection, and humility.
Writing an ema is less about asking for miracles and more about acknowledging your hopes and placing them respectfully into the flow of life.
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Hi, I’m Marie, the creator behind @tabimawari.
I lived in Kyoto, learned Japanese, and keep returning to explore Japan beyond the obvious.
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but don’t know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and it’s hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pace.
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Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
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