The Shintoism Gods & Goddesses of Japan

A guide to the essential Shinto deities and what they rule over

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: February 5, 2026 Fact Checked

Originating in prehistoric Japan at some point around 300 BCE, Shinto (or Shintoism) is an animistic and polytheistic religion, meaning that adherents believe that everything in nature has a spirit and that there are multiple gods. The precise number of Shinto gods (called kami) is unknown, but Shinto teachings refer to "yaoyorozu no kami" (八百万の神), which translates to “eight million kami.” Here, we’ll look at the most iconic and essential kami from Shinto history.

Important Kami in Shintoism

While an ancient idiom claims there are 8 million Shinto gods (called kami), the most important and well-known include:

Izanagi & Izanami, the couple who created all other kami.
Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and heaven.
Susanoo, the god of storms, seas, and tempests.
Tsukuyomi, the god of tides, the moon, and nighttime.

1

Izanagi & Izanami (伊邪那岐 & 伊邪那美)

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The parents of Japan and the other kami. Izanagi and Izanami are probably the most iconic and “important” gods in the Shinto pantheon. Their names translate to roughly “she who invites” and “he who uninvites.” They are a married couple who are credited with physically creating the islands of Japan. They’re also the gods whose mythology explains why life and death exist. To put it in Western terms, these are the Zeus and Hera of Shintoism.^{[1]
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- Depicted as: A couple standing together on a bridge, or a couple wielding a long spear and driving it into water to create Japan.
- Famous shrine: Izanagi Jingu, on the Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture.
  - A note on shrines in Shinto: Known as jinja, shrines are considered the places where kami actually live. They’re viewed as bridges between the divine and the worldly, and they often feature iconic torii gates and a shintai (which is where the kami “lives”).^{[2]
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2

Amaterasu (天照)

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The goddess of the sun and ruler of heaven. Amaterasu is often treated as the “main” god in the kami pantheon as she rules over the sun, but she’s also responsible for ruling over Takamagahara—the Shinto spirit realm of heaven for the gods. She is venerated for providing light, overseeing the universe, and making sure the divine pantheon of kami remains orderly and functional. She is also associated with mirrors and considered a godly extension of the Japanese imperial family.^{[3]
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- Depicted as: An aristocratically-dressed woman standing in front of a sun, or behind a mirror.
- Famous shrine: The Ise Grand Shrine in the Mie Prefecture is her main shrine. It’s over 2,000 years old, and considered one of the most important religious sites in Japan.^{[4]
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3

Susanoo (素戔嗚)

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The god of the sea, storms, and tempests. Susanoo is a complex kami with both positive and negative qualities. He is known as a rebellious hero who defeated a powerful sea serpent. When Buddhism was introduced in Japan, he was mistakenly connected to the gods of pestilence and disease, so he is often venerated today as a god who prevents bad things from happening. He is Amaterasu’s brother.^{[5]
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- Depicted as: A bearded man standing with a sword in the middle of raging waters.
- Famous shrine: Susa Shrine, in the Shimane Prefecture.

4

Tsukuyomi (月読)

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The god of the moon, nighttime, and changing tides. Tsukuyomi rules over the darkness of night and provides moonlight for people to make their way. He is known as a handsome and dashing but prideful kami. Along with his siblings Susanoo and Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi is known as one of the “three precious children” or “three noble children.” He is also notable for killing the goddess of food.^{[6]
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- Depicted as: A robed man on top of a hill or mountain. He is often dressed in blue and holding a mirror, a jewel, or both.
- Famous shrine: Gassan Shrine (Gassan-jinja) on Mount Gassan in the Yamagata Prefecture. Mount Gassan is often considered to be Tsukuyomi’s home. There is also a popular, notable shrine in the Nishikyo Ward of Kyoto.

5

Inari (稲荷)

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The goddess of foxes, sex, rice, sake, and industry. Inari is usually depicted as a woman, but sometimes she’s depicted as agender or male. She’s the ruler, protector, and cultivator of rice, which is extremely important in Japanese history and culture. She’s also associated with foxes, which are said to carry her messages and spy for her. She is the inspiration behind “Inari sushi,” a traditional dish where you deep-fry tofu and sushi rice. Shintoists often leave these treats at her shrines.^{[7]
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- Depicted as: She’s often depicted in red and hanging out with white foxes. Sometimes, she is masked or shown wandering through a rice field. She’s a popular deity among artists because of the many different ways you can display her.
- Famous shrine: Fushimi Inari Shrine, near Kyoto.

6

Jizo (地蔵)

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The protector of women, children, vulnerable people, and travelers. Jizo is a beloved god who is known as the guardian of would-be victims. You can actually find statues of Jizo all over Japan on rural roads, hiking trails, and rarely traveled roads.^{[8]
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Research source} He is also considered a protector and overseer of transitory spaces and borders.^{[9]
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- Depicted as: A bald man wearing a red cap and bib, carrying a walking staff. The Jizo statues of him are made of stone and often display him sitting quietly in contemplation. In Chinese Buddhism, he is considered a fertility god, so he is occasionally shown holding a baby.^{[10]
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- Famous shrine: The Nashi-No-Ki Shrine on the Island of Sado.

7

Hachiman (八幡神)

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The god of war, archery, power, and the defender of Japan. Hachiman (formerly known as Yahata) was originally a god of agriculture and fish, but Shinto kami are flexible and prone to change. Hachiman emerged as the samurai grew in power, and the god was said to be responsible for determining the fate of samurai warriors. He is also considered the kami tasked with protecting the country of Japan.^{[11]
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- Depicted as: A man sitting peacefully on a lotus-stool with a calligraphy pen or staff, reflecting Japan’s cultural appreciation of intelligence as a quality necessary for warriors. He is also depicted carrying a sword on horseback.
- Famous shrine: There are four major shrines to Hachiman: Usa Jingu, in Oita, Iwashimizu Hachimangu, in Kyoto, Hakozaki Shrine, in Fukuoka, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, in Kamakura.

8

Kaminari Raijin & Fujin (雷神 & 風神)

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The dark gods of thunder, lightning, and wind. While Susanoo rules over storms, Kaminari Raijin and Fujin rule over the really bad stuff that comes with storms. Fujin rules the winds and brings destruction, while Kaminari rules over lightning and thunder, striking the Earth and destroying as he sees fit.^{[12]
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- Depicted as: Angry, muscular, and giant, these two are usually displayed as Oni (kind of like demons), floating high in the sky or looking over the Japanese landscape.
- Famous shrine: These kami are closely associated with Kaminarimon, the “Thunder Gate,” which is part of a larger shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo.

9

Tenjin (天神)

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The deified god of education, learning, and poetry. Tenjin was actually born human. He’s the ascended god of Sugawara no Michizane, a famous Japanese scholar, artist, and politician from 845-903 CE. The story goes that Michizane was outlawed by a political rival and died in exile. The next day, a storm came and killed many of the followers of said rival, leading people to believe he was now a kami. Today, he’s seen as a patron of the arts and the kami responsible for helping learners and writers avoid curses.^{[13]
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- Depicted as: A writer sitting under a tree, a man being struck by lightning, or a professor leading a lecture.
- Famous shrine: There are thousands of “Tenman-gu” (shrines to Tenjin), but the most popular one is likely Kitano Tenman-gu, in Kyoto.

10

Ebisu (恵比須)

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The god of luck, the ocean, fishing, and honest work. Ebisu is sort of like the blue-collar dockworker kami. He’s popular among sailors, farmers, and people in the service industry because it’s said he brings good luck to those who do an honest day’s work. His followers also celebrate his feast days by banging mallets against the walls to let Ebisu know it’s time to show up, as he is traditionally understood to be hard of hearing.^{[14]
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- Depicted as: A content and happy fisherman with his fishing rod. Sometimes, he is shown carrying a fish, or fanning himself with a traditional folding fan.
- Famous shrine: The Nishionmiya Jinja, in the Hyogo Prefecture.

11

Okuninushi (大国主)

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The god of agriculture, medicine, and the Izumo region. Known as the “Master of the Great Land,” Okuninushi is a kami who survived a number of “ordeals” at the hands of his obnoxious brother, which earned him the hand of Yakami (the princess of Inaba) in marriage. The two escaped the netherworld and began repairing the world with medicine and agriculture. He’s the principal kami of the Izumo region. He’s also closely associated with marriage; Okuninushi is said to bless marriages that are meant to last.^{[15]
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- Depicted as: There are a lot of different depictions that are popular, but the two most common are a portly man sitting peacefully, and a thin man carrying a large sack and plants. He is often shown alongside a white rabbit.
- Famous shrine: The Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, in Izumo, Shimane.

12

Benzaiten (弁才天/弁財天)

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The goddess of music, eloquence, wisdom, and snakes. Benzaiten, often referred to as Benten, is the only female kami in the “Seven Lucky Gods” pantheon. She is likely modeled after an Indian Hindu goddess, Sarasvati, who is the Hindu goddess of music. Benzaiten is associated with the arts, rhetoric, dragons, snakes, and things that slither.^{[16]
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- Depicted as: She typically carries a lute and is surrounded by wild, flowy fabrics and vibrant dragons. She is also often shown with eight arms, which is a reflection of her connection with the Hindu goddess.
- Famous shrine: There are three really famous shrines dedicated to Benzaiten (appropriately known as the “Three Great Shrines of Benzaiten”). There is one in Hiroshima, one in Kanagawa, and one in Shiga.

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Kami aren’t technically Gods in the way Western traditions typically think. They aren’t omnipotent, and they’re often not perfect (or even good). They’re closer to something like a “powerful spirit” or “powerful creator” than a Judeo-Christian “God.”^{[17]
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Research source} Some of them (like Tenjin) even started as real people before becoming kami!

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Kami play an important role in Buddhism, as well. While Shinto and Buddhism share a lot culturlal and religious practices, we are only going to cover Shinto kami here.

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