One day, I will go to the Senso-ji temple, sit down in front of one of the Omikuji walls and count how many people come to have their fortune told in the course of an hour. Everyone paying 100 yen. Whenever we go or pass there, at any hour, day or night, there are always people wanting to know their fortune.
Having the future predicted and praying for something, is very common. A Japanese friend once told me, there are thousands of gods in Japan’s shinto belief system, just ask for something, anything, there will certainly be a god who listens to it.
Personally, I don’t do much praying but I like the aesthetics of it here in Japan. Of course you can pray silently but you can also buy (!!) a badge, write down your wish and hang it on a rack. Depending on the temple, the badges have different images on them and can also vary in shape.

Despite not being a religious person, I could of course not resist to also draw my fortune. At Senso-ji temple they nicely explain it in English :-)
