During the Edo period, people called Awashima-gannin carried zushi (a cupboard-like case with double doors in which an image of (the) Buddha, a sutra, or some other revered object is kept at a temple) enshrining a doll of Awashima Myojin on their backs and traveled around, preaching the divine virtues of Awashima Myojin, spreading Awashima shinko (belief) across the country.
江戸時代には、淡島願人と呼ばれる人々が、淡島明神の人形を祀った厨子を背負い、淡島明神の神徳を説いて廻ったため、淡島信仰が全国に広がった。