神棚(かみだな)

かみだな
noun
household Shinto altar, kami shelf
religionculture
1. household Shinto altar, kami shelf
A small shelf or miniature shrine installed high on a wall in Japanese homes and businesses to enshrine Shinto talismans (御札(おふだ)). Used for daily prayers and offerings to the kami.
毎朝(まいあさ)神棚(かみだな)に手(て)を合(あ)わせる。
I put my hands together in prayer at the kami shelf every morning.
新(あたら)しい御札(おふだ)を神棚(かみだな)に祀(まつ)った。
I enshrined a new talisman on the kami shelf.
祖父(そふ)の家(いえ)には立派(りっぱ)な神棚(かみだな)があり、毎日(まいにち)水(みず)と米(こめ)を供(そな)えていた。
My grandfather's house had an impressive kami shelf, and he would offer water and rice there every day.

Usage

A compound of 神(かみ) (god, kami) and 棚(たな) (shelf). Traditionally placed high on a wall in the living room or a prominent room. The Buddhist equivalent is 仏壇(ぶつだん) (Buddhist altar). Some households have both.

Offerings typically include 米(こめ) (rice), 水(みず) (water), 塩(しお) (salt), and 榊(さかき) (sakaki branches).

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.2.26 23:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13740_kamidana