Shrine-Maiden Experience in Kyoto
- In Japan, a "Miko" refers to a Shinto shrine maiden
- Dress in a Miko's costume immersing yourself in the revered traditions and customs of these mystical guardians of the shrine
- Any ladies over 12 years old can join this experience
What to expect
What is Miko You’ve seen some girls in white robes and red skirts at shrines in Japan. They are called “Miko(巫女)” in Japanese. They used to be like shamans in ancient times, but now they are a kind of assistants of Shinto priests. Of course, they have to learn appropriate behavior in shrines even now.








Good to know
The schedule of Miko(shrine-maiden) Experience
- Costume dressing
- Ceremonial manners(purifying,ringing bells, etc…)
- Sweep shrine precinct
- Formal worship (sanpai)
- Small lecture
- Photo time You can put on Chihaya(a formal jacket) and Kanzashi(a hair accessory) when you take pictures. You can take pictures anywhere you like
150-Minute Plan Special Selection
For the final 50 minutes of your 150-minute experience, please select one of the following options and inform us of your preference when booking: Option 1: 50 minutes of free time for commemorative photos
Option 2: 30 minutes of free time for commemorative photos + 20 minutes of additional Shrine Maiden (Miko) experience
Option 3: 10 minutes of free time for commemorative photos + 40 minutes of additional Shrine Maiden (Miko) experience
Reviews
Thank you for the wonderful experience and memories. My daughter and I gained a lot of knowledge here. If either of us made any mistakes, we sincerely apologize. We truly tried our best to learn. Thank you once again.
This was a once in a lifetime experience, facilitated by the lovely miko guide, who spoke perfect English and had a lot of patience. Aside from dressing up like a shrine maiden, you learn about their life and duties, including participation in a ritual and learning part of a special dance. This experience was one of the main highlights of my trip, I highly recommend it!
This has to be my favourite experience in Japan so far (other than getting engaged lol). Chihiro was amazing! I am a history teacher and this shrine maiden experience was awesome to better understand Shinto customs. When I come back to Japan, I will be redoing this for sure !! My fiancé wasn’t sure if he could stay to watch and there was no problem for him to watch and take pictures!
Very interesting! The teacher spoke English very well, even though I have a very poor level, I understood her perfectly! She taught us how to make an offering, a sanctuary dance, how to purify our hands... There were only two of us in the class! I highly recommend it!
This experience was one of a kind! I highly recommend this for anyone interested in miko or new religion customs and ceremonies. They are so informative and kind. It was amazing.
This experience was my favorite part of my trip to Kyoto! As someone who loves to study Shintoism and visit shrines, I found this experience extremely interesting and full of amazing things to learn! The instructor was so knowledgeable and taught me so much!
I'm writing this in Thai for Thai speakers. This activity is highly recommended for anyone visiting Kyoto. We booked the 100-minute course, and it was worth every minute because we learned about the sacred Kagura dance, how to show respect to the gods, and more. The instructor was so lovely and kind. There were no communication problems at all, and they were very friendly. At the end of the course, we chatted a bit and took some beautiful photos. Overall, this activity is highly recommended.
It's not my first time traveling in Japan, but I booked this experience thinking I'd enjoy various things while traveling solo, and it was a surprisingly fresh experience. I was late due to another schedule beforehand, but I was able to participate without any problems. The experience was conducted in English, and the staff was very fluent. I messed up the order several times, but they were incredibly patient and explained it to me again and again. The program itself is a recreation of a miko's (shrine maiden's) daily life, including prayers and dances. After the experience, there's a photo time, and since I didn't have anyone to take pictures for me, Chihiro, who was running the session, took pictures with great care. Thinking about it now, I should have taken a picture with her, which is a shame~ I think it's worth trying if you want to feel the Japanese vibe and are interested in traditional culture.💕
It was a unique and very enriching experience. There were only two of us participating that day, so I was able to learn a lot about Japanese culture and the Miko calmly. Both Chihiro-san, who was our "teacher", and the rest of the temple staff were very kind and attentive. I recommend this experience if you want to experience something different on your trip.
So far, it has been the best experience of my trip. Participating in this activity felt like a dream come true. It is a truly inspiring and educational tour. Chihiro (who speaks excellent English and is a great instructor) proved to be very friendly despite my clumsiness. The shrine, although small, is extremely beautiful and provides an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. I also enjoyed being able to practice what I had learned with the priest. I wasn't expecting it, but it was very exciting. Without a doubt, these people are doing wonderful work. Thank you very much for everything!
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