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UNESCO Japanese Court Music, Miko Dance & Prayer at Meiji Jingu
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
$150
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after
they redeem the gift voucher.
Overview
The UNESCO Japanese Court Music, Miko Dance & Prayer at Meiji Jingu offers a unique insight into Japan's spiritual traditions. Participate in a formal Shinto prayer ceremony that few travelers experience, surrounded by the enchanting sounds of ancient music and graceful dances.
- 🎶 Engage in a formal Shinto prayer ceremony, experiencing Gagaku, Japan's oldest court music recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- 👘 Witness a traditional Miko dance performed before the gods, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Japan's ancient imperial court.
- 📝 Write down your wishes and prayers before the ceremony, receiving an Ofuda carrying your intentions at the end.
- 🗺️ Meet your guide under the second torii gate, where you'll learn about its unique features and nearby sake barrel displays, perfect for memorable photos.
- 🚶♂️ Walk from the second to the third torii gate, learning proper etiquette for passing through the gates and gaining favor with the deities.
- 💧 Cleanse your hands and mouth at the purification fountain before participating in the ritual of offering a coin and bowing to express gratitude.
- 🏯 Visit the Kagura Hall to fill out an application form indicating your prayer intentions, with assistance provided for smooth registration.
- 🥁 Experience a purification ritual performed by shrine priests in traditional attire, followed by the performance of gagaku music and Miko dance.
- 🍶 Conclude the ceremony with sacred offerings (shinsen) and omiki (sacred sake), believed to carry spiritual power and blessings.
- ♿ Enjoy a wheelchair accessible tour, with all areas and surfaces accommodating various physical fitness levels, and prams/strollers welcome.
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UNESCO Japanese Court Music, Miko Dance & Prayer at Meiji Jingu
Tour guide
Language: English
Human tour guide
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Information and application form translation fees
- Amulets, etc. purchased privately
- Prayer fee paid to the shrine (5,000 yen for personal prayer)
Meeting point
Meet under the Second Torii Gate at Meiji Jingu Shrine.
The guide will be waiting for you with a board displaying your name.
Return details
After the prayers are completed, the group will disperse at the exit of the Kaguraden.
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Let's meet under the second torii gate. Here, I will guide you through the details of the torii's unique features, the displays of sake barrels and wine barrels nearby, as well as the waka poem prominently displayed at the front. It's a great spot for taking photos, so feel free to capture as many as you like. I'll be happy to assist you!
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We will walk from the second torii gate to the third torii gate. Along the way, I will teach you the proper etiquette for walking along the approach and passing through the torii gates. Many foreign tourists mistakenly perform these rituals incorrectly, which can come across as quite disrespectful. By learning the correct manners from us, you will gain the favor of the deities. I will also guide you through the waka poems and buildings we encounter along the way. Feel free to take photos at all these locations. I encourage you to capture great shots, and I'll be happy to assist you!
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At the purification fountain, cleanse your hands and mouth before proceeding to the main shrine area. First, let's experience the same method of worship as the general public. Using the ritual of offering a coin, followed by two bows, two claps, and one final bow, you will express your gratitude to the deities. There are areas where photography is not allowed, and I will guide you accordingly.
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Meiji Jingu KaguradenNext, we will move to the Kagura Hall, where you can receive individual blessings. First, you will fill out an application form at the entrance. On the form, you’ll indicate your prayer intentions, such as world peace, household safety, travel safety, recovery from illness, business success, finding a good match, safe childbirth, or academic achievement, along with your address and name. Once completed, submit the form along with the offering fee (starting from 5,000 yen) to the shrine priest to complete the process. The forms are available only in Japanese, but we will assist you thoroughly to ensure everything is handled smoothly. Once registration is complete, you’ll wait in the lounge for the ceremony to begin. This lounge is also a beautiful space where you can fully appreciate traditional Japanese art.
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Meiji Jingu KaguradenNow, we proceed to the altar in the Kagura Hall, where the ceremony will take place. The sound of a drum resonates as shrine priests, dressed in traditional Japanese attire, use sacred tools to perform a purification ritual for us. This cleansing brings a sense of peace and fulfillment. Following the purification, traditional court music known as gagaku is performed, accompanied by a dance by shrine maidens (miko). Gagaku, a musical tradition played on elaborately decorated drums and flutes from ancient times, has been designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The shrine maidens, adorned in traditional costumes, dance gracefully, creating an atmosphere of elegance. Watching this performance, you’ll feel as though you’ve become royalty in a grand palace.
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Meiji Jingu KaguradenAfter the ceremony concludes, the ritual is completed by receiving sacred offerings (shinsen) and drinking sacred sake (omiki). Shinsen refers to the offerings presented to the deities during the ceremony, which are later shared with participants as a souvenir. It is often in the form of nori (seaweed) and is meant to be enjoyed at home. Omiki is sacred sake offered to the deities, a portion of which is shared with participants. At the exit, you will receive a small cup, and a shrine maiden will pour the sake for you to drink on the spot. It is believed that items offered to the deities are imbued with spiritual power, and consuming these offerings is a way to pray for good health and protection from illness. This marks the end of the tour. While photography inside the Kagura Hall is strictly prohibited, you are free to take as many pictures as you like outside. Please feel free to ask for assistance—we’ll be happy to help!
If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
02
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We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
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Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!
UNESCO Japanese Court Music, Miko Dance & Prayer at Meiji Jingu
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
$150
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after
they redeem the gift voucher.
How it works?
01
—
You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
02
—
We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
03
—
Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!