Amulet Making Experience
(Since I booked both the amulet making and kimono changing experiences, the introductory text is shared.)
Recently, I wanted to make a commemorative amulet myself, and a friend recommended this place, so I booked a visit to the "Shiomi Ryugu Shrine" for the experience.
I don't usually come around Shiomi, and when I first arrived, it was indeed a bit unique, just as the Google Maps reviews described. The building is a small apartment-office complex, with many restaurants on the first floor. Although I had read the reviews beforehand, I couldn't help but wonder if it was a bit too unusual. As soon as we got downstairs, a Taiwanese staff member heard us speaking and immediately came to confirm our reservation and explain things, which instantly put us at ease.
For the DIY amulet making experience, you can choose between styles with or without a photo frame. Once you've chosen your style, you can start making it. Besides us, there were many other groups of customers that day, including quite a few Japanese people and families with children, making it feel like an art class experience. So, it's not purely an attraction for overseas tourists.
I originally thought making an amulet would just involve drawing and sticking things, but I was surprised by the vast array of materials available. (This place uses stamps for designs.) Plus, you can choose beads to weave, and we spent almost two hours working on it without finishing. We eventually had to rush to wrap it up because we really couldn't stay any longer.🤣
However, throughout the process, both the Taiwanese and Japanese staff were incredibly meticulous and friendly. They were almost always responsive and thorough with instructions and various other requests (and this was true for other customers as well). Their explanations about the amulets and the shrine itself were also very detailed. I'm very grateful to all the staff that day.
Overall, I highly recommend this experience to anyone who has already done many things in Tokyo and isn't interested in shopping. I personally had a lot of fun and found it very fulfilling. Of course, this experience might not be for everyone, but if you come, you'll generally have a good takeaway, at least getting your own unique amulet.