I just got back from a shrine and bought some omamori for my family. So I bought a bigger one marked 1200 yen and the shrine maiden said 1200 and when I gave her the money she said 2200. I thought maybe I heard her wrong as I do have some hearing difficulty or misread the sign since the price was written in kanji and not numbers. It was very busy at the shrine and there was along line to get in and for omamori but I came back and saw something I was interested in but saw it was actually 1200 yen and asked a different shrine maiden and confirmed it was 1200 yen. I tried explaining what happened but I don’t think I did a good job or she didn’t understand me after quite a few tries I just decided it wasn’t a big deal as I was already feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I am currently a student studying abroad in Japan so I am still studying and practicing the language. But today I felt maybe my Japanese skills weren’t good enough even after studying and being here for a little while. I know scams happen but I didn’t think this would happen in a shrine on one of the most busiest times of the year. Is it common for scams to occur in shrines in Japan?
11 comments
Never been scammed at a shrine and surprised that a shrine maiden would trick you that way. That said, many omamori look similar and could have varying prices depending on what they are for.
No. Scams at shrines are unheard of.
Maidens don’t scam anybody, they’re just clerks selling stuff for fixed prices. You simply misheard the price and that’s it.
It was most likely a miscommunication problem. If you overpaid just consider it a generous donation to the shrine. 神様 will look upon you favorably.
I’m sorry for what happened. I think shrines should give a receipt otherwise you can’t prove what you paid for.
Likely miscommunication. Just a 1000yen loss.
Don’t let this depress you. Let it motivate you to study Japanese harder
You just misheard, you didn’t get “scammed”
“Scamming” someone like that out of 1000 JPY would super cheap.
You’ve likely misheard…
I am sorry for the miscommunication! I don’t think they were purposefully scamming you. Yesterday I bought hamaya at a shrine and the lady told me 2000 yen and then I heard a voice scolding her from across the room, saying it was only 1000 yen. The maiden apologized profusely saying she sometimes gets the smaller and larger Hamaya prices confused. It happens:)
There’s probably a confused shrine maiden out there who now has a very good opinion on the generosity of gaijin
If your Japanese skills weren’t good enough, you have no one to blame but yourself. Good luck on improving!