Ise Onshi

During the era when the public transportation was undeveloped, not all who wished to make a pilgrimage could visit Ise Jingu. Therefore, volunteers shared the expense for a pilgrimage and sent their representative to Ise. The priests, called Ise Onshi, provided pilgrims with lodging, guidance and kagura (sacred music and dance) for them, which associated common people with Jingu. Onshi also distributed good luck charm tablets and calendars all over Japan. Those activities by Onshi led to a boom of “Okage Mairi,” which means pilgrimages to extend thanks for the deities’ blessings.