Kamidana

A kamidana displaying shimenawa and shide.

Kamidana (Kanji: 神棚 Hiragana: かみだな, literally "spirit (kami) altar"), is a miniature Shinto shrine found in many Japanese homes. The kamidana is typically placed high on a wall and contains a wide variety of items (kamizane) related to Shinto-style ceremonies, the most prominent of which is the shintai, most commonly in the form of a small circular mirror, though it may also take the form of a stone (magatama), jewel, or some other object with largely symbolic value. A similar shrine, when placed at ground-level upon a platform possessing three or four steps, is referred to as a kamidoko.^{[citation needed]} Worship at the kamidana typically consists of the offering of simple prayers, food (e.g., rice, fruit, water) and flowers. Before worshiping at the kamidana it is ritually important for family members to cleanse their hands.

Kamidana can also be found in some traditional Japanese martial art dōjō. The word is frequently confused with Kamiza (上座), the seat of an honor in a room or dojo, but without any connection to Shinto.

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See also

• Spirit house
• Butsudan
• Etiquette in Japan