巫女姿でＪＡＰＡＮ体験　「君の名は。」効果で外国人女性向けプログラム人気　兵庫・尼崎えびす神社　#インバウンド　#訪日https://t.co/zrdTq1sWvq pic.twitter.com/SGySIFJY46

— JAPAN style 訪日ビジネスアイ (@jsankeibiz) December 19, 2017

Nobuo Otagaki is the head priest of Amagasaki Ebisu Shrine, located in Amagasaki City in Hyogo Prefecture. The town sees a number of foreign travelers staying overnight on their way to or from sightseeing destinations in Kyoto and Osaka, and last year the Amagasaki Hospitality Group approached Otagaki with the idea of starting a miko experience package.

Having run a similar, successful program in New York, Otagaki agreed, and now interested individuals and groups can participate in one-hour sessions held at Amagasaki Ebisu Shrine where they dress in miko attire, learn about the activities the maidens do to keep the shrine running, and even try their hand at kaguramai, a traditional dance accompanied by bells and chimes that was featured in a memorable scene of hit anime film Your Name.

Otagaki credits the popularity of the anime with sparking an interest in miko among foreign visitors, particularly those from Taiwan. Participants hail from a number of countries though. In December, for example, a group of 10 exchange students from Australia and Fiji who are currently studying at Amagasaki’s Sonoda Women’s University took part in the one-hour program.

To date, over 150 groups have done the program and the shrine plans to continue offering it for the foreseeable future. Reservations are required, with directions available here on the shrine’s website.

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