Miyagi Prefecture
A Spiritual Craft: Shimenawa for the New Year
Wara straw is a material which has come to have many uses thanks to the ingenuity of farming families, who make a diverse array of tools and objects from it. One of the most representative uses of wara straw is shimenawa.
But what is a shimenawa? In shinto, shimenawa are traditional ropes made from hemp or straw used to purify spaces and mark locations kami are believed to inhabit. Legend has it that the first use of a shimenawa was by the god Futo-tama, who used one to prevent the sun goddess Amaterasu from returning to the cave she had been hiding in following an argument with her brother Susanoo.
As a means of purifying spaces and preventing evil from entering, shimenawa ropes are also hung to welcome the god Toshigami into one’s home. This exclusive experience offers visitors the chance to make a shimenawa decoration for your home using green wara. An experienced local craftsperson will teach you how to prepare the straw and weave it into these fascinating ropes used to purify homes and hearts.
Some important notes for this experience:
Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting a little dirty (Long sleeves and long pants please, no skirts allowed. Warm clothing recommended.)
Participants will remove shoes prior to starting experience, so be sure you have socks on as well!
Shimenawa Experience Details
What's Included
Lesson, Materials, English translator
Cost
Inquire below
Participants
6-10 participants
Experience Availability
Available October to December
Average Duration
150 minutes
Meeting Location
Tome-shi, Miyagi Prefecture
Important notes
Reservation availability may vary. Reserve to confirm availability.
Please notify us at least 3 days before if you must cancel or modify your reservation.
Inquire about your shimenawa experience today
You can send a booking inquiry below. After we receive your inquiry, we will confirm the booking with our partners and send you a booking confirmation email at least 3 days before your desired date.
Please note this form does not confirm the availability of the experience.
Cancelation policy
Our cancelation policy for this experiences is below.
From Booking
20% deposit
8-29 days before date of experience
30% of total price
2-7 days before date of experience
40% of total price
1 day before date of experience
50% of total price
Same day
100% of total price
