Dear guests and friends of Secret Retreats,
Across Asia, fortune is woven into landscapes, rituals, and ancient beliefs. From mountaintop monasteries to riverbank shrines, travelers have long journeyed to certain places to invite protection, clarity, and good luck for the year ahead. Consider this your postcard of auspicious destinations — places where tradition and atmosphere naturally align with hope.
Kek Lok Si Temple – Penang, Malaysia
A major pilgrimage site during Lunar New Year, the sprawling hilltop Kek Lok Si glows with thousands of lanterns symbolising prosperity and protection. Locals climb to the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas to pray for clarity and success. At night, the temple becomes a luminous blessing.
Mount Popa – Myanmar
Known as the home of the 37 Nats (spirits), Mount Popa is Myanmar’s center for seeking prosperity and protection. Pilgrims climb 777 steps to Popa Taungkalat Shrine to ask the nat spirits for luck in career, health, and family. The view alone feels like a renewal.
Jogyesa Temple – Seoul, South Korea
In central Seoul, Jogyesa is the place for New Year’s fortune rituals. Locals hang wish tablets from ancient trees and participate in bell-ringing ceremonies to welcome good luck. Lanterns in spring fill the courtyard with a soft, hopeful glow.
Senso-ji Temple – Tokyo, Japan
Japan’s oldest temple is famous for omikuji fortune slips. Visitors draw paper fortunes and tie the unlucky ones to metal racks to symbolically leave misfortune behind. The giant lantern of Kaminarimon is believed to protect new beginnings.
Taktsang Monastery – Paro, Bhutan
In Bhutan, good luck is carried on the wind. Pilgrims hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery to seek courage and resilience; at Punakha Dzong, monks offer blessings for health; and across the valleys, thousands of prayer flags scatter wishes into the sky. It is said that Bhutan doesn’t just offer good fortune — it teaches you how to feel it.
Pura Lempuyang (Heaven’s Gate) – East Bali, Indonesia
One of Bali’s six holiest temples, where locals visit early in the year for melukat (purification) ceremonies. The Gates of Heaven frame Mount Agung — seen as an auspicious sign when the volcano is visible.
A Wish for Your Coming Year
Wherever you choose to wander — to mountains, shrines, rivers, or forests — may these places fill your year with balance, brightness, and beautifully aligned moments.