GITNUXREPORT 2026

Japan Religion Statistics

Shinto and Buddhist rituals remain widely practiced in Japan despite low personal religious belief.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Jodo Shinshu sect claims 25 million adherents, largest Buddhist denomination per 2022 report

Statistic 2

Total Buddhist temples in Japan: 77,256 as of 2021 Agency for Cultural Affairs data

Statistic 3

Nichiren Shu believers: 3.5 million, with 5,000 temples

Statistic 4

Soto Zen monasteries host 10,000 monks in training annually

Statistic 5

Annual obon festival participation: 80% of population, blending Buddhist ancestor worship

Statistic 6

Rinzai Zen koan study groups: 50,000 practitioners

Statistic 7

Buddhist funeral rites conducted for 99% of deaths in 2022

Statistic 8

Shingon esoteric mandala rituals performed 20,000 times yearly

Statistic 9

Tendai sect Mt. Hiei pilgrims: 1.2 million/year

Statistic 10

Pure Land nembutsu chanting sessions: 100,000 events annually

Statistic 11

Buddhist scripture copying (shakyo) by 500,000 laypeople yearly

Statistic 12

Zen meditation (zazen) apps downloaded 2 million times in Japan 2023

Statistic 13

Soka Gakkai international members from Japan base: 8 million

Statistic 14

Buddhist vegetarian temple cuisine (shojin ryori) served to 5 million tourists/year

Statistic 15

Annual Buddhist New Year (oshogatsu) temple bells rung 108 times at 20,000 sites

Statistic 16

Theravada Buddhist centers in Japan: 150, with 10,000 practitioners

Statistic 17

Buddhist university enrollment: 50,000 students across 20 institutions

Statistic 18

Post-death 49-day rituals observed for 95% of Buddhists

Statistic 19

Engaku-ji Zen temple hosts 300,000 visitors for autumn leaves rituals

Statistic 20

Nichiren Daishonin Lotus Sutra recitation groups: 1 million members

Statistic 21

Buddhist disaster relief volunteers: 200,000 post-2011

Statistic 22

Women priests in Jodo Shinshu: 40% of total

Statistic 23

Digital sutra apps used by 3 million Japanese Buddhists

Statistic 24

Kannon statue worship sites: 33 nationwide, 10 million pilgrims/year

Statistic 25

Buddhist art national treasures: 2,500 items

Statistic 26

Annual sesonji (ancestor veneration) costs average 100,000 yen/household

Statistic 27

Zen rock gardens maintained at 500 temples, drawing 15 million tourists

Statistic 28

True Pure Land sect publications: 2,000 titles/year

Statistic 29

Buddhist youth camps attendance: 100,000 teens annually

Statistic 30

Buddhism, Eiheiji temple trains 200 monks yearly in Soto Zen

Statistic 31

As of 2023, 1.1% of Japanese population (1.4 million) identifies as Christian

Statistic 32

Catholic population in Japan: 440,000 in 2022 per Vatican statistics

Statistic 33

Protestant denominations total 0.5% adherence, around 600,000 members

Statistic 34

Number of Christian churches: 8,000 across Japan in 2021

Statistic 35

Baptism rates: 10,000 annually, mostly adults, per 2022 NCCJ report

Statistic 36

Christmas church attendance: 1.5 million participants yearly

Statistic 37

Jesuit missions in Nagasaki diocese serve 50,000 parishioners

Statistic 38

Bible sales in Japan: 1.2 million copies annually

Statistic 39

Christian schools enrollment: 200,000 students in 1,000 institutions

Statistic 40

Easter services draw 500,000 across denominations

Statistic 41

Orthodox Church adherents: 10,000, with 150 parishes

Statistic 42

Christian wedding ceremonies: 5.2% of total marriages in 2022

Statistic 43

Youth Christian groups: 100,000 members in YMCA/YWCA etc.

Statistic 44

Missionary numbers from abroad: 2,000 active in 2023

Statistic 45

Christian hospitals: 300 facilities serving 10 million patients/year

Statistic 46

Pentecostals growth: 20% increase to 100,000 since 2010

Statistic 47

Bible study apps downloads: 500,000 in Japan 2023

Statistic 48

Anglican-Episcopal Church: 30,000 members, 200 churches

Statistic 49

Christian influence on education: 15% of universities have Christian roots

Statistic 50

Nativity scenes displayed in 5,000 public/private sites during Christmas

Statistic 51

Jehovah's Witnesses: 200,000 publishers active

Statistic 52

Christian charities aid: 500 billion yen annually

Statistic 53

Vatican diplomatic presence since 1942, with 1 embassy

Statistic 54

Mormon (LDS) stakes: 12, members 15,000 in Japan 2023

Statistic 55

Christianity, Tokyo Baptist Church congregation: 5,000 members weekly

Statistic 56

In 2022, 62% of Japanese reported no religious affiliation in surveys

Statistic 57

Syncretic Shinto-Buddhist practice: 70% of population per 2021 ISSP survey

Statistic 58

Religious belief intensity low: only 10% consider religion very important, Pew 2023

Statistic 59

Atheist/agnostic identification: 60-70% in Gallup 2022 poll

Statistic 60

Shrine and temple visits: 80% annually despite low affiliation

Statistic 61

2015 census religious adherents total 181 million for 127 million pop (overlap)

Statistic 62

Decline in religious facilities: temples down 10% since 2000 to 77k

Statistic 63

Youth religiosity: 5% weekly practice vs 20% elderly, 2022 data

Statistic 64

Gender gap: women 10% more religious than men, ISSP 2021

Statistic 65

Urban vs rural: rural 20% higher temple attendance

Statistic 66

Post-WWII religious freedom constitution led to 500+ new groups

Statistic 67

2023 poll: 48% believe in afterlife, down from 60% in 2000

Statistic 68

Foreign residents religious diversity: 2.5 million non-Japanese believers

Statistic 69

Religious education in schools: 1% curriculum time

Statistic 70

Charitable giving to religion: 0.5% of GDP, lowest OECD

Statistic 71

Digital religion shift: 30% use apps for prayers post-COVID

Statistic 72

Aging population impact: 50% of priests over 70 years old

Statistic 73

International comparison: Japan 2nd least religious after China, WIN/Gallup

Statistic 74

Ritual participation peaks at life events: birth 90%, death 99%

Statistic 75

Government religious budget: 200 billion yen for cultural preservation 2023

Statistic 76

35 new religions registered yearly average 2010-2020

Statistic 77

Demographics and Trends, 75% perform household Shinto butsudan worship

Statistic 78

As of 2020, Soka Gakkai has 8.27 million households affiliated

Statistic 79

Tenrikyo followers: 1.8 million worldwide, 1.2 million in Japan 2022

Statistic 80

Perfect Liberty Kyodan (PL) adherents: 1.1 million

Statistic 81

Rissho Kosei-kai membership: 2.5 million in 2023

Statistic 82

Konkokyo believers: 400,000, with 5,000 churches

Statistic 83

Omoto religious adherents: 170,000

Statistic 84

Islam followers in Japan: 230,000 including 100,000 Japanese converts by 2023

Statistic 85

Hinduism practitioners: 25,000 mainly Indian diaspora

Statistic 86

Judaism community: 2,000 members, 10 synagogues

Statistic 87

Baha'i Faith: 15,000 adherents across 47 prefectures

Statistic 88

New Age spiritual groups: 500 organizations with 2 million participants

Statistic 89

Oomoto-derived groups total 1 million followers

Statistic 90

Seicho-no-Ie members: 1.6 million households

Statistic 91

Animism folk practices blended: 10 million participants in shamanic rituals

Statistic 92

UFO religions like Aum successors: 10,000 members monitored

Statistic 93

Sikh community: 5,000 members, 20 gurdwaras

Statistic 94

Zoroastrian followers: 1,500 mainly Iranian

Statistic 95

Wicca/pagan groups: 50,000 estimated practitioners

Statistic 96

Falun Gong practitioners: 5,000 active

Statistic 97

Confucian shrines and societies: 100 sites, 50,000 affiliates

Statistic 98

Other Religions, Reiyukai affiliation: 3 million believers

Statistic 99

As of 2022, there are approximately 81,248 Shinto shrines registered in Japan according to the Association of Shinto Shrines

Statistic 100

In 2021, Shinto shrine visits (hatsumode) totaled over 3.6 million at Meiji Jingu alone during New Year's period

Statistic 101

The number of Shinto priests (kannushi) stands at around 39,000 as reported in 2020 by Jinja Honcho

Statistic 102

Annual offerings (saisen) collected by Shinto shrines exceeded 100 billion yen in fiscal year 2019

Statistic 103

Ise Grand Shrine attracts about 8 million visitors annually, with peak miyamairi rituals for newborns numbering tens of thousands

Statistic 104

In 2023 survey, 48.6% of Japanese participated in Shinto rituals like omamori acquisition

Statistic 105

Fushimi Inari Taisha sees 2.7 million fox statue visits yearly

Statistic 106

Shinto wedding ceremonies accounted for 19.1% of marriages in 2022 per government data

Statistic 107

Over 90% of Japanese attend matsuri festivals rooted in Shinto, with 300,000 such events annually

Statistic 108

Kami worship sites increased by 1.2% from 2010 to 2020 to 81,000+

Statistic 109

In 2019, Shinto-related publications numbered 1,500 titles

Statistic 110

Youth participation in Shinto youth groups reached 150,000 members in 2022

Statistic 111

Shinto purification rituals (misogi) practiced by 12% of population yearly

Statistic 112

National Treasure Shinto artifacts total 1,200 items in shrines

Statistic 113

Shinto economic impact via tourism: 1.2 trillion yen annually

Statistic 114

In 2021, 70% of newborns registered for Shinto miyamairi

Statistic 115

Iki-iki Shinto promotion reached 500,000 households

Statistic 116

Shinto forest preservation covers 10 million hectares

Statistic 117

Annual Shinto music (gagaku) performances: 5,000 events

Statistic 118

Women kannushi number 15% of total priesthood, up 5% since 2010

Statistic 119

Digital omamori sales surged 300% post-2020 to 1 million units

Statistic 120

Shinto schools (shrine academies) enroll 20,000 students yearly

Statistic 121

Emperor's Niiname-sai harvest ritual attended by 500 dignitaries annually

Statistic 122

Shinto eco-rituals for disaster recovery post-2011: 1,000+ events

Statistic 123

Membership in Shinto lay groups: 2.5 million

Statistic 124

Shinto art exhibitions draw 1 million visitors yearly

Statistic 125

Pilgrimage to 88 sacred sites variant in Shinto: 50,000 pilgrims/year

Statistic 126

Shinto influence on anime/manga: 40% of top titles feature kami

Statistic 127

Shrine merger reforms reduced sites by 5% since 2000 to optimize resources

Statistic 128

In 2022, 55% identified Shinto affiliation in NHK poll

Statistic 129

Shintoism, Kanda Myojin Shrine hosts 1 million visitors for annual festival

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While over 60% of Japanese people claim no religious affiliation, a staggering 181 million reported religious adherents—many more than the total population—reveal a culture deeply engaged in ritual, where visiting one of the country's 81,000 Shinto shrines or 77,000 Buddhist temples is less about faith and more a vibrant thread in the fabric of daily life.

Key Takeaways

As of 2022, there are approximately 81,248 Shinto shrines registered in Japan according to the Association of Shinto Shrines
In 2021, Shinto shrine visits (hatsumode) totaled over 3.6 million at Meiji Jingu alone during New Year's period
The number of Shinto priests (kannushi) stands at around 39,000 as reported in 2020 by Jinja Honcho
Jodo Shinshu sect claims 25 million adherents, largest Buddhist denomination per 2022 report
Total Buddhist temples in Japan: 77,256 as of 2021 Agency for Cultural Affairs data
Nichiren Shu believers: 3.5 million, with 5,000 temples
As of 2023, 1.1% of Japanese population (1.4 million) identifies as Christian
Catholic population in Japan: 440,000 in 2022 per Vatican statistics
Protestant denominations total 0.5% adherence, around 600,000 members
As of 2020, Soka Gakkai has 8.27 million households affiliated
Tenrikyo followers: 1.8 million worldwide, 1.2 million in Japan 2022
Perfect Liberty Kyodan (PL) adherents: 1.1 million
In 2022, 62% of Japanese reported no religious affiliation in surveys
Syncretic Shinto-Buddhist practice: 70% of population per 2021 ISSP survey
Religious belief intensity low: only 10% consider religion very important, Pew 2023

Shinto and Buddhist rituals remain widely practiced in Japan despite low personal religious belief.

Buddhism

Jodo Shinshu sect claims 25 million adherents, largest Buddhist denomination per 2022 report
Total Buddhist temples in Japan: 77,256 as of 2021 Agency for Cultural Affairs data
Nichiren Shu believers: 3.5 million, with 5,000 temples
Soto Zen monasteries host 10,000 monks in training annually
Annual obon festival participation: 80% of population, blending Buddhist ancestor worship
Rinzai Zen koan study groups: 50,000 practitioners
Buddhist funeral rites conducted for 99% of deaths in 2022
Shingon esoteric mandala rituals performed 20,000 times yearly
Tendai sect Mt. Hiei pilgrims: 1.2 million/year
Pure Land nembutsu chanting sessions: 100,000 events annually
Buddhist scripture copying (shakyo) by 500,000 laypeople yearly
Zen meditation (zazen) apps downloaded 2 million times in Japan 2023
Soka Gakkai international members from Japan base: 8 million
Buddhist vegetarian temple cuisine (shojin ryori) served to 5 million tourists/year
Annual Buddhist New Year (oshogatsu) temple bells rung 108 times at 20,000 sites
Theravada Buddhist centers in Japan: 150, with 10,000 practitioners
Buddhist university enrollment: 50,000 students across 20 institutions
Post-death 49-day rituals observed for 95% of Buddhists
Engaku-ji Zen temple hosts 300,000 visitors for autumn leaves rituals
Nichiren Daishonin Lotus Sutra recitation groups: 1 million members
Buddhist disaster relief volunteers: 200,000 post-2011
Women priests in Jodo Shinshu: 40% of total
Digital sutra apps used by 3 million Japanese Buddhists
Kannon statue worship sites: 33 nationwide, 10 million pilgrims/year
Buddhist art national treasures: 2,500 items
Annual sesonji (ancestor veneration) costs average 100,000 yen/household
Zen rock gardens maintained at 500 temples, drawing 15 million tourists
True Pure Land sect publications: 2,000 titles/year
Buddhist youth camps attendance: 100,000 teens annually
Buddhism, Eiheiji temple trains 200 monks yearly in Soto Zen

Buddhism Interpretation

While Jodo Shinshu may claim the highest official membership, the true, living measure of Japanese Buddhism is less in doctrinal headcounts and more in the pervasive, practical rhythm of life and death—where nearly everyone receives a Buddhist funeral, a vast majority honor ancestors, millions perform rituals or visit temples, and ancient practices seamlessly scale from smartphone apps to seasonal pilgrimages, proving the tradition's profound adaptation as the spiritual and cultural bedrock of society.

Christianity

As of 2023, 1.1% of Japanese population (1.4 million) identifies as Christian
Catholic population in Japan: 440,000 in 2022 per Vatican statistics
Protestant denominations total 0.5% adherence, around 600,000 members
Number of Christian churches: 8,000 across Japan in 2021
Baptism rates: 10,000 annually, mostly adults, per 2022 NCCJ report
Christmas church attendance: 1.5 million participants yearly
Jesuit missions in Nagasaki diocese serve 50,000 parishioners
Bible sales in Japan: 1.2 million copies annually
Christian schools enrollment: 200,000 students in 1,000 institutions
Easter services draw 500,000 across denominations
Orthodox Church adherents: 10,000, with 150 parishes
Christian wedding ceremonies: 5.2% of total marriages in 2022
Youth Christian groups: 100,000 members in YMCA/YWCA etc.
Missionary numbers from abroad: 2,000 active in 2023
Christian hospitals: 300 facilities serving 10 million patients/year
Pentecostals growth: 20% increase to 100,000 since 2010
Bible study apps downloads: 500,000 in Japan 2023
Anglican-Episcopal Church: 30,000 members, 200 churches
Christian influence on education: 15% of universities have Christian roots
Nativity scenes displayed in 5,000 public/private sites during Christmas
Jehovah's Witnesses: 200,000 publishers active
Christian charities aid: 500 billion yen annually
Vatican diplomatic presence since 1942, with 1 embassy
Mormon (LDS) stakes: 12, members 15,000 in Japan 2023
Christianity, Tokyo Baptist Church congregation: 5,000 members weekly

Christianity Interpretation

So while the cross may be a quiet stitch in Japan’s vast spiritual fabric, the thread runs surprisingly deep, weaving through hospitals, schools, and even Christmas illuminations far more than the official 1.1% adherence would suggest.

Demographics and Trends

In 2022, 62% of Japanese reported no religious affiliation in surveys
Syncretic Shinto-Buddhist practice: 70% of population per 2021 ISSP survey
Religious belief intensity low: only 10% consider religion very important, Pew 2023
Atheist/agnostic identification: 60-70% in Gallup 2022 poll
Shrine and temple visits: 80% annually despite low affiliation
2015 census religious adherents total 181 million for 127 million pop (overlap)
Decline in religious facilities: temples down 10% since 2000 to 77k
Youth religiosity: 5% weekly practice vs 20% elderly, 2022 data
Gender gap: women 10% more religious than men, ISSP 2021
Urban vs rural: rural 20% higher temple attendance
Post-WWII religious freedom constitution led to 500+ new groups
2023 poll: 48% believe in afterlife, down from 60% in 2000
Foreign residents religious diversity: 2.5 million non-Japanese believers
Religious education in schools: 1% curriculum time
Charitable giving to religion: 0.5% of GDP, lowest OECD
Digital religion shift: 30% use apps for prayers post-COVID
Aging population impact: 50% of priests over 70 years old
International comparison: Japan 2nd least religious after China, WIN/Gallup
Ritual participation peaks at life events: birth 90%, death 99%
Government religious budget: 200 billion yen for cultural preservation 2023
35 new religions registered yearly average 2010-2020
Demographics and Trends, 75% perform household Shinto butsudan worship

Demographics and Trends Interpretation

Japan's spiritual landscape is best described as a nation of ritual-rich atheists, where cultural tradition thrives in the absence of personal faith, turning shrines into heritage sites and funeral rites into the last bastion of the sacred.

Other Religions

As of 2020, Soka Gakkai has 8.27 million households affiliated
Tenrikyo followers: 1.8 million worldwide, 1.2 million in Japan 2022
Perfect Liberty Kyodan (PL) adherents: 1.1 million
Rissho Kosei-kai membership: 2.5 million in 2023
Konkokyo believers: 400,000, with 5,000 churches
Omoto religious adherents: 170,000
Islam followers in Japan: 230,000 including 100,000 Japanese converts by 2023
Hinduism practitioners: 25,000 mainly Indian diaspora
Judaism community: 2,000 members, 10 synagogues
Baha'i Faith: 15,000 adherents across 47 prefectures
New Age spiritual groups: 500 organizations with 2 million participants
Oomoto-derived groups total 1 million followers
Seicho-no-Ie members: 1.6 million households
Animism folk practices blended: 10 million participants in shamanic rituals
UFO religions like Aum successors: 10,000 members monitored
Sikh community: 5,000 members, 20 gurdwaras
Zoroastrian followers: 1,500 mainly Iranian
Wicca/pagan groups: 50,000 estimated practitioners
Falun Gong practitioners: 5,000 active
Confucian shrines and societies: 100 sites, 50,000 affiliates
Other Religions, Reiyukai affiliation: 3 million believers

Other Religions Interpretation

While Japan’s spiritual landscape is often summarized by Shinto and Buddhism, this data reveals a bustling, often overlooked marketplace where Soka Gakkai runs a major franchise, UFO religions keep a low profile, and everyone from Sikhs to pagans has managed to stake out their own uniquely Japanese corner of the cosmos.

Shintoism

As of 2022, there are approximately 81,248 Shinto shrines registered in Japan according to the Association of Shinto Shrines
In 2021, Shinto shrine visits (hatsumode) totaled over 3.6 million at Meiji Jingu alone during New Year's period
The number of Shinto priests (kannushi) stands at around 39,000 as reported in 2020 by Jinja Honcho
Annual offerings (saisen) collected by Shinto shrines exceeded 100 billion yen in fiscal year 2019
Ise Grand Shrine attracts about 8 million visitors annually, with peak miyamairi rituals for newborns numbering tens of thousands
In 2023 survey, 48.6% of Japanese participated in Shinto rituals like omamori acquisition
Fushimi Inari Taisha sees 2.7 million fox statue visits yearly
Shinto wedding ceremonies accounted for 19.1% of marriages in 2022 per government data
Over 90% of Japanese attend matsuri festivals rooted in Shinto, with 300,000 such events annually
Kami worship sites increased by 1.2% from 2010 to 2020 to 81,000+
In 2019, Shinto-related publications numbered 1,500 titles
Youth participation in Shinto youth groups reached 150,000 members in 2022
Shinto purification rituals (misogi) practiced by 12% of population yearly
National Treasure Shinto artifacts total 1,200 items in shrines
Shinto economic impact via tourism: 1.2 trillion yen annually
In 2021, 70% of newborns registered for Shinto miyamairi
Iki-iki Shinto promotion reached 500,000 households
Shinto forest preservation covers 10 million hectares
Annual Shinto music (gagaku) performances: 5,000 events
Women kannushi number 15% of total priesthood, up 5% since 2010
Digital omamori sales surged 300% post-2020 to 1 million units
Shinto schools (shrine academies) enroll 20,000 students yearly
Emperor's Niiname-sai harvest ritual attended by 500 dignitaries annually
Shinto eco-rituals for disaster recovery post-2011: 1,000+ events
Membership in Shinto lay groups: 2.5 million
Shinto art exhibitions draw 1 million visitors yearly
Pilgrimage to 88 sacred sites variant in Shinto: 50,000 pilgrims/year
Shinto influence on anime/manga: 40% of top titles feature kami
Shrine merger reforms reduced sites by 5% since 2000 to optimize resources
In 2022, 55% identified Shinto affiliation in NHK poll
Shintoism, Kanda Myojin Shrine hosts 1 million visitors for annual festival

Shintoism Interpretation

While Shinto is often called Japan's "invisible religion" because few claim it as a sole identity, its vibrant and omnipresent influence is strikingly visible in the millions of shrine visits, festivals, and rituals that seamlessly weave its ancient rhythms into the very fabric of modern Japanese life.