In Shinto, there are no sacred scriptures (such as the Bible) or unchanging beliefs. Followers of Shinto revere sacred sprits called kami. Public and private shrines are built to worship kami or ask them for favors. The sun goddess called Amaterasu O-mikami is the primary kami.

Shinto, which means "way of the gods," venerates ancestors and stresses purity and perfection. Natural wonders, such as Japan's Mount Fuji, are thought to be dwelling places of the divine and worthy of reverence. During the summer, apprentice Shinto priests live and worship at a shrine on Fuji's summit.

There are no regular services in Shinto—followers can worship at shrines whenever they choose. Festivals throughout the year bring devotees together.

Most Japanese do not belong to a formal religion, although Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto all influence the culture in many ways.