Misogi 禊, Bathing, and the Cultivation of Good Fortune

The ancient wisdom of purification through water, and how a daily bath can nurture your luck

Do you take the time to soak in a warm bath each day? In the midst of our busy lives, many of us have fallen into the habit of making do with a quick shower. Yet the act of immersing oneself in a bathtub holds a meaning far deeper than simply warming the body.

Since ancient times, Japan has cherished a tradition of purification called misogi (禊)—the practice of cleansing body and spirit with water, understood as an essential preparation for welcoming good fortune into one’s life. Before embarking on anything new, one must first purify oneself. This way of thinking has been passed down through the generations, stretching all the way back to the age of Japanese mythology.

In this article, we will trace the cultural roots of misogi and explore how something as familiar as our daily bath is, in fact, profoundly connected to the cultivation of good fortune.

What Is Misogi 禊?　 The Origin of Japan’s Culture of Purification

Misogi is the act of purification through water, performed with the intention of washing away sin and spiritual impurity—what the Japanese call kegare (穢れ). There are several theories about the word’s etymology: it may derive from mizu-sosogi (水滌ぎ), meaning “rinsing with water”; mi-susugi (身清ぎ), meaning “cleansing the body”; or mi-sogi (身削ぎ), meaning “paring away” what is no longer needed. Each of these roots shares the same underlying idea: using the power of water to restore oneself to an original state of purity.

To truly understand misogi 禊, it is important to appreciate the deeper meaning of the word kegare. Kegare does not simply mean “dirty” or “filthy.” According to one widely held interpretation, kegare is written as ki-gare (氣枯れ)—literally, “a state in which one’s ki 氣 (life energy) has withered.” In the course of daily life, we unknowingly accumulate fatigue, stress, and the weight of various emotions, and our vital energy gradually becomes depleted. To wash away this depleted energy with water and restore our life force to its natural, vibrant state—that is the true essence of misogi.

It All Began with the Misogi of Izanagi

The origin of misogi can be traced to a myth recorded in the Kojiki (古事記), Japan’s oldest chronicle of history, compiled in 712 CE.

The story tells of the god Izanagi-no-Mikoto, who journeyed to Yomi-no-Kuni—the land of the dead—in an attempt to bring back his beloved wife, Izanami-no-Mikoto, who had passed away. There, he beheld her transformed and decaying form, and fled back to the world of the living in horror. Bearing the defilement of the underworld upon his entire body, Izanagi lamented, “What a dreadful land I have been to!” and descended into the waters at Awagihara in Tsukushi-no-Himuka—a place believed to correspond to present-day Miyazaki Prefecture—to perform misogi 禊.

What is truly remarkable about this myth is that through this act of purification, numerous deities were born. Gods came into being as Izanagi cast off his garments and accessories, and still more emerged as he washed his body in the water. Finally, when he washed his left eye, the great sun goddess Amaterasu-Ōmikami was born. When he washed his right eye, the moon god Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto appeared. And when he washed his nose, the powerful storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto came into being. These three deities are known as the Mihashira-no-Uzunomiko—the Three Precious Children—the most exalted among all the gods.

This myth offers us a profound insight. Purification is not merely the removal of impurity. Beyond the cleansing, new life and new power are born. In other words, purification is an act of regeneration, the very beginning of creation itself.

From Misogi 禊 to Bathing Culture — Japan’s Tradition of Cleansing with Water

Over time, the spirit of misogi came to shape the very foundation of Japan’s bathing culture.

The Japanese archipelago is home to more than three thousand hot spring areas, and archaeological evidence from the Jōmon period (c. 14,000–300 BCE) confirms that people were already making use of natural hot springs in ancient times. Since time immemorial, the people of Japan have soaked in the earth’s thermal waters to restore body and spirit.

When Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century, bathing culture grew richer still. Buddhist scriptures taught that “bathing removes seven ailments and bestows seven blessings,” and the cleansing of the body was regarded as an important practice for those who served the Buddha. During the Nara period (710–794), bathing halls called yokudō were established at temples including the great Tōdai-ji. These served both as places of monastic discipline and as charitable facilities where ordinary people were offered the opportunity to bathe, a practice known as seyoku, or “philanthropic bathing.” This is said to be the origin of Japan’s public bathhouses.

In other words, Japan’s bathing culture blossomed at the intersection of two great traditions of purification: the Shinto practice of misogi and the Buddhist practice of mokuyoku (ritual ablution). What both share is a deeply held belief that cleansing the body with water is also an act of cleansing the spirit.

Yugori — The Practice of Purification through Hot Water

Among the variations of misogi, there is a practice called kori (垢離)—purification of body and spirit through water. While mizugori (水垢離), purification with cold water, is perhaps more widely known, there also exists a practice called yugori (湯垢離): the act of purifying oneself by soaking in warm water.

It is no coincidence that hot springs are found near many of Japan’s most important shrines and temples, including the Grand Shrine of Ise and the three sacred sites of Kumano. Pilgrims would traditionally perform yugori at a hot spring before visiting these holy places, cleansing body and spirit in preparation for worship. The Sakakibara Onsen in Mie Prefecture, for example, is known as “the land of yugori for Ise”—travelers making the journey from the capital to the Grand Shrine of Ise would stop at this spring to purify themselves, and this was considered the proper and formal manner of pilgrimage. It is widely believed that the “Nanakuri-no-Yu” praised by the celebrated Heian-era author Sei Shōnagon in her literary masterpiece The Pillow Book as one of the three finest hot springs in Japan refers to none other than Sakakibara Onsen.

This tradition teaches us something important. Unlike the austere forms of misogi that involve standing beneath a waterfall or plunging into icy seas or rivers, the simple act of soaking gently in warm water is itself a worthy act of purification. Might we not say, then, that the bath we take each day carries within it the spirit of yugori—a quiet form of misogi woven into the fabric of our everyday lives?

Why Soaking in the Bath Cultivates Good Fortune

In light of this history, we can begin to see that the Japanese custom of soaking in the bathtub carries a significance far beyond mere hygiene. But what, specifically, connects bathing to the cultivation of good fortune?

I. Release the Day’s Kegare Before the Day Is Done

Throughout the course of a single day, we come into contact with all manner of energies. When we are out in the world—the stress of crowded places, the tension of work, harsh words or difficult emotions—things accumulate in our bodies and minds, even when we cannot see them. These are the very factors that lead to the ki-gare 氣枯れ, the withering of vital energy, that we discussed earlier.

By soaking slowly in the bath, we can wash away not only the physical dirt of the day, but also the unseen, unnecessary energies we have unknowingly gathered. Cleanse what belongs to today before today is over, and go to sleep in a fresh, unburdened state. When we do this, we can greet the following morning feeling refreshed, beginning the new day with renewed energy.

II. Cleanse the Vessel That Receives

As the myth of Izanagi teaches us, in Japan it has been believed since ancient times that new things are born only after purification has taken place. It is only after impurity has been washed away that space opens up—a kind of emptiness, or readiness—for fresh energy and good fortune to enter.

No matter how earnestly we try to invite good luck into our lives, if the vessel is clouded or already full, it cannot receive. First, the vessel must be cleansed. Bathing is the daily act of tending to that vessel which is to say, ourselves, preparing it each evening to welcome what tomorrow may bring.

III. Soften Body and Mind, and Return to a State of Tokowaka 常若

It is sometimes said that the Japanese word for hot water, yu (湯), shares its root with the word yurumu—to soften, to loosen, to release. When we surrender our bodies to warm water, tension melts away, circulation improves, breathing deepens. Both body and mind naturally enter a state of gentle release.

In Shinto, there is a concept called tokowaka (常若) “perennial youth.” It expresses the idea that by periodically purifying and renewing ourselves, we can maintain a fresh, vibrant life force that never grows old. The tradition of the Grand Shrine of Ise, where the shrine buildings are completely rebuilt every twenty years in a ceremony called the Shikinen Sengū, is rooted in this very philosophy of tokowaka.

Our daily bath is, in a sense, our own small Sengū—our personal renewal ceremony. By soaking in the water at the close of each day and resetting body and mind, we are reborn each morning as a new version of ourselves.

Turning Your Daily Bath into a “Small Misogi 禊”

You do not need special tools or formal rituals. Simply bringing the awareness of misogi to your everyday bath can profoundly transform the quality of that time. Here are a few suggestions to guide you.

Make time to soak not just to shower

A shower can clean the surface of the body, but what has been treasured in Japanese bathing culture is the act of soaking of immersing oneself in water and allowing the warmth to penetrate slowly and deeply. When you settle into the bath and let your body be held by the water, tension releases from your core and the flow of your vital energy is restored. Even on the busiest of days, taking just five or ten minutes to soak can make a meaningful difference over time.

Bring intention to the act of washing

When you wash your body, rather than scrubbing mechanically, try bringing a gentle awareness to what you are doing. Imagine that you are rinsing away the unnecessary things you have absorbed throughout the day. When you wash your hair, picture yourself letting go of overthinking. When you wash your body, visualize fatigue and tension flowing away with the water. It is such a simple shift, yet you may be surprised at how much lighter your heart feels afterward.

Keep your bathroom clean

The place where you purify yourself should itself be a place of cleanliness. Clean your bathroom regularly and maintain it as a fresh, pleasant space. A clogged drain, for example, is said to create stagnation in the flow of energy. A well-kept bathroom enhances the purifying effect of your bath.

Add natural salt or sake to the water

Since ancient times, salt and sake have been regarded in Shinto as possessing the power of purification. Adding a pinch of natural coarse salt or about one cup of Japanese sake to your bathwater is said to deepen the cleansing effect. This can be especially soothing when you are feeling particularly drained or when your spirits are low.

Step out of the bath with gratitude

When you emerge from the bath, take a moment to feel gratitude toward your own body now cleansed and renewed. It is a way of thanking yourself for all you have done throughout the day, and of honoring the purifying water that has carried your weariness away. This small act of awareness will carry a quiet radiance into the day that follows.

In Closing — The First Step in Cultivating Your Fortune

When we hear the words “cultivating good fortune,” we may assume it requires something extraordinary. Yet what the people of Japan have treasured for thousands of years is something remarkably simple: the act of purifying oneself.

Before beginning something new, before receiving something precious—first, cleanse. Just as the Three Precious Children were born after Izanagi performed his misogi, it is in the space that opens after purification that new power and new blessings come into being.

And this “cleansing” need not be as rigorous as standing beneath a waterfall. Simply by soaking mindfully in our daily bath, we can receive the same blessings that the practice of misogi has offered since ancient times.

Tonight, would you linger in the bath just a little longer than usual? Quietly release the weight of the day, and tend to your body and spirit in preparation for the person you will be tomorrow.

It is the most familiar and most important first step you can take toward cultivating your own good fortune.