[Special price only on January 21st] Experience becoming a "ujiko" (parishioner) of a local shrine community that is important to Japanese people

• Table of Contents
• What is a shrine parishioner? About the shrine parishioner experience
• Dates, times, fees and participation conditions
• Access and Parking

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What is a shrine parishioner? About the shrine parishioner experience

Ujiko are people who live in the same area and worship the local god. Simply put, they are supporters of the shrine!

In this experience, you will learn about the local shrine and experience the Japanese spirit by caring for the shrine together with local parishioners.

Change clothes and cleanse yourself

First, you will change into the work clothes and geta sandals that parishioners usually wear, and purify yourself before taking care of the shrine. You will learn the proper way to wash your hands and experience a purification ritual to purify yourself.

Learn how to clean the temple grounds and pray

Holding a bamboo rake, you will clean up the grounds together with the parishioners. You will have the chance to do a special cleaning of the back of the worship hall, which is usually off-limits. Depending on the timing, you may also be able to collect offerings and exchange sakaki branches and paper streamers. Afterwards, you will walk through the cleaned approach to the shrine for a special worship. You will learn the proper etiquette for offering tamagushi branches from the priests as you worship and make offerings.

Experience making your own custom goshuin stamp and hemp amulet

After returning to the shrine office to take a break, you can experience making a goshuin. You can make your own goshuin by stamping and writing with ink.

You can also experience making amulets using the sacred hemp used at shrines and religious ceremonies.

Includes a bento box that recreates the meals served by the Saio princess from 800 years ago.

Finally, you will enjoy the offering of the "Saio Bento" while chatting with the parishioners.

The Saio Bento is a bento that recreates the meals eaten by the Saio, a princess who once lived in this area, using modern techniques and ingredients from Meiwa Town.

After lunch, take a break and relax with some sake manju, a Meiwa town specialty, and Ise tea for dessert.

Dates, times, fees and participation conditions

[Date] January 21st, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

[Price] Monitor price: 6,600 yen (tax included)

[Conditions for participation]

・Participants limited to 1 to 10 people

・For ages 13 and up (those under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian)

・As this is a trial price, we ask for your cooperation in completing a survey, taking photos, and posting on social media.

・The guide will only speak English.

・If multiple groups apply, the tours will be conducted simultaneously.

*For other experience details, dress code, important points, etc., please check the experience reservation page.

Access and Parking

The event location, Takejinja Shrine, can be accessed by train or car from central Mie Prefecture.

If you are coming from Nagoya Station, take the Kintetsu Nagoya Line and change to a local train at Ise-Nakagawa Station to Saigū Station.

The journey takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, and it is about a 5-minute walk from Saigū Station.

If you are coming by car, please use the Takejinja Shrine parking lot. Address: 257 Saigū, Meiwa-cho, Taki-gun, Mie Prefecture

Book an experience

Book a regular plan