Shintō is one of the oldest religions in the world, with roots dating back over two millennia.¹⁾

The word “Shintō” (神道) literally means “Way of the Gods.”²⁾

Shintō does not have a specific founder or a central religious text like many other religions.³⁾

It is considered an indigenous religion of Japan, deeply ingrained in the country's culture and history.⁴⁾

Shintō focuses on the worship of kami, which can be understood as spirits or deities associated with natural phenomena, objects, ancestors, and even concepts.⁵⁾

Kami can be found in various forms, such as rocks, trees, animals, and natural elements like mountains and rivers.⁶⁾

Shintō's sacred spaces are called jinja, which are Shintō shrines scattered all across Japan.⁷⁾

There are approximately 80,000 Shintō shrines in Japan, varying in size and significance.⁸⁾