A Look at Spring Wallets: Tips You Should Know for Inviting Good Fortune

At the start of a new year, there are so many things we want to do simply because it's now. One example is "buying a new wallet." Getting a new wallet during this season is considered an auspicious custom that draws good fortune, and January in particular is the perfect chance to invite good luck. A wallet purchased at this time is called a "haru zaifu" (spring wallet)—a play on words linking "haru" (spring) with "haru" (to swell), based on the belief that your wallet will swell full of money.

January also has other auspicious days, such as ichiryu manbai-bi (a day said to multiply a single grain into ten thousand), and replacing your wallet at this time can be the first step toward a fresh start and a prosperous 2025. In this article, we introduce wallets that fit easily into your daily life, along with a few small touches that may help boost your fortune.

Table of Contents

What's Recommended for This Year's Replacement?

Finding a Wallet to Match Your Lifestyle

　1/ For those who shop frequently at supermarkets and in daily life
　2/ For business use, to carry on your commute
　3/ For weekend shopping and outings
　4/ For the cashless-minded, who want only the bare essentials
　5/ For travel and outdoor scenes

A Small Touch for Good Fortune, to Try Before You Start Using It

What's Recommended for This Year's Replacement?

While many of us don't usually pay close attention to lucky days, some may start to notice them after drawing an omikuji (fortune slip) at hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year. Here are the lucky days to know in January.

January 2025

・Ichiryu Manbai-bi
An auspicious day whose name means that a single grain of rice can grow into an ear bearing ten thousand grains. Because of the image of money multiplying many times over, it is considered an ideal day to start using a new wallet.

・Day of the Snake (Mi no Hi)
A day associated with Benzaiten, the goddess who brings wealth and wisdom, and known as an auspicious day for financial fortune. Since the snake is said to be Benzaiten's messenger, this is also considered an ideal day to begin using a new wallet.

・Day of the Tiger (Tora no Hi)
A day associated with Bishamonten, the god of wealth and power. As the saying goes, "A tiger travels a thousand miles and returns a thousand miles," meaning this is considered a lucky day when what goes out comes back—making it a good day to buy a new wallet.

What we recommend is "buying your wallet on an Ichiryu Manbai-bi, then beginning to use it on a Day of the Snake." We'll look at this in more detail later in the article.

Finding a Wallet to Match Your Lifestyle

Once you buy a wallet, you tend to use it for a long time. Since the chance to replace it doesn't come around often, we tend to choose the same style we've always used—but with cashless payments and other changes, our lifestyles are constantly evolving. Taking a fresh look at how you actually use your wallet may help you discover a style that suits you even better.

1/　For Those Who Shop Frequently at Supermarkets and in Daily Life

If you buy daily necessities at a variety of stores, point cards, credit cards, and other cards tend to pile up. For those who want peace of mind, a long wallet is recommended, as it makes storing and finding your cards easy.

PAL LONG FLAP WALLET (Long Flap Wallet)

This is a long wallet where every pocket you need is exactly where it should be. Its distinctive feature is an accordion-like structure that allows for ample card storage, with the six central pockets each holding three cards.

There's card storage on the back as well. The soft leather is sourced from one of Italy's largest tanneries, one widely used by maison brands. The surface has a semi-aniline finish, giving it a beautiful color with a sense of depth and transparency. The zipper is YKK's premium "Excella" line, reflecting careful attention to every detail of this long wallet.

2/　For Business Use, to Carry on Your Commute

For those who want to pay smoothly during lunch breaks or at crowded stations, a long wallet is recommended. It works well even as receipts pile up, and is also easy to keep organized—a welcome benefit.

Envelope Wallet

Unlike a typical design, this is a highly flexible wallet where a long wallet, coin case, and card case come together as one.

This wallet challenges the assumption that a wallet must always have card pockets and a coin purse, letting you use only the functions you truly need. If you usually pay with cashless methods but tend to accumulate receipts and tickets, you can leave out the coin case and keep the wallet slim. On the other hand, if you already carry a separate card case, a wallet that holds only bills and coins may be exactly what you need.

CORDOVAN LONG WALLET

This is a long wallet made of cordovan leather, known as the "king of leathers" or "the diamond of leather" for its beautiful sheen.

Cordovan is inherently a rare material with limited output, but in modern times its rarity has increased even further due to the declining population of large draft and food horses. Even when the design isn't flashy, the moment you hold it in your hand it just feels right—it settles into your own personal style, making you want to use it every day. And yet, when you pull it out of your bag, it's the kind of wallet that catches people's eyes.

3/ For carrying on days off, shopping trips, or outings

If you value ease of carrying along with visual appeal, a bifold wallet is recommended. Not too big and not too small, it won't take up much space in a backpack and slips easily into a pocket, while being lighter than a long wallet—reassuring when your load increases from shopping.

SOLUM Postman Wallet S

A bifold wallet we'd recommend to anyone switching over from a long wallet. Despite its small size, it offers ample storage capacity and functionality.

An L-shaped zipper makes the coin space easy to see into and smooth to use, paired with a gusseted card space. It's popular for its generous storage and the convenience of not having to switch wallets. Made from soft-to-the-touch vegetable-tanned leather, this wallet develops natural marks the more you use it, deepening a unique contrast over time—a wallet that lets you enjoy the pleasure of long-term use.

Bifold Wallet

A refined, unisex wallet with gentle coloring and a natural sheen.

The coin pocket opens wide, and there are two bill compartments. Having two is convenient—you can separate your bills, or use one side to hold receipts. There are four colors in total: Natural, which lets you enjoy the changes that come with age; Dark Brown, a chic and stylish matte color; Brown, which gives a sense of warmth; and Black, masculine and dignified. We've assembled basic colors that are also easy to choose as gifts.

4/ For the cashless crowd, who want to carry only the bare essentials

If you carry only a small number of cards and prefer a small bag or lighter load, a mini wallet is ideal. It reliably holds the minimum necessary bills and coins. This size is also easy to give as a gift.

Envelope Mini Wallet

A compact trifold wallet that fits neatly in the palm of your hand. Despite its small size, it's properly equipped with ample storage capacity, and it can be slipped into the pocket of jeans or other bottoms for a hands-free outing—recommended for those who want to lighten their daily load.

The leather used differs by color: NUM, BLACK, and BLACK STUDS use Selvaggio, a leather known for its distinctive mottled pattern. Selvaggio is also known as a leather that lets you enjoy the aging process with its uneven texture, but that expression is only made possible because it's processed thinly—each piece has its own unique pattern, making it a fascinating leather. It uses vegetable tannins and has an extremely soft, high-quality texture.

The specially ordered NAVY STUDS and PURPLE use Butero, a leather with a smooth, clean appearance and a firm, leather-like feel. Made from the shoulder part of the cowhide, it has a high fiber density with few grain textures, and it's abundant in oils, making it resistant to cracking.

Some mini wallets are hard to get coins in and out of because of their compactness, but this one lets you release coins from the inside of the flap, making it convenient to find the coins you need.

Trifold Wallet TRIFOLD S. WALLET W TAB

If you're using it for outings, you'll also want to be particular about its appearance. This is a popular trifold wallet with a striking color-block design, combining a compact size that doesn't bulk up with excellent usability.

The interior features a bill pocket divided into two sections, six card pockets, and a gusseted coin case in the middle—a construction that offers flawless usability as a wallet despite its small size. Traditional British bridle leather takes on more character and becomes better fitted to your hand the more you use it.

5/ For travel, outdoor scenes, and similar occasions

A mini wallet that combines lightness and compactness is convenient. It fits into small bags like waist pouches and can also be slipped into a pants pocket, making it easy to pull out quickly whenever you need it.

All Conditions Card Pocket Mini Wallet

Despite its compact appearance, this is a functional mini wallet that can hold up to 10 cards along with folded bills, coins, and even keys.

Although it's made of leather, it employs a sturdy, highly water-resistant outer fabric and zipper that can withstand harsh weather such as rain and snow, resulting in a wallet that's both compact and remarkably durable. Its pocket-friendly size is another appealing feature, making it a small wallet recommended for those who primarily use cards.

Mini Wallet FOLIO MINI

A mini wallet equipped with RFID anti-skimming protection, perfect for worry-free travel.

With ample storage capacity, it can hold up to 12 cards, folded bills, and coins. Inside, two convenient sections for cards and bills make organizing simple. What really stands out is the coin section, which features an easy-to-open magnetic closure—eliminating the small hassle of opening and closing a zipper every time you need change, for a stress-free experience.

A Little Extra Step for Good Fortune Before You Start Using Your New Wallet

When you get a new wallet, there are ways to further boost your financial luck.

What matters most is the amount of money you put in first. Start by putting in as much as possible—ideally two to three times your usual amount—and then avoid taking money in or out for about two weeks afterward. This practice of letting money "rest" in the wallet is a traditional method believed to improve the flow of money. During this period, keeping the wallet tidy and treating it with care is said to invite the energy that naturally draws money toward you.

Also, regarding the method introduced above—"purchase your wallet on Ichiryu Manbai-bi and start using it on Mi no Hi"—if you'd like to let your wallet rest before use, the recommended course of action for 2025 is to purchase it on the 10th (Ichiryu Manbai-bi), let it rest from the time it arrives until the 23rd, and then start using it on the 24th (Mi no Hi).