Mythology
Japanese Mythology Quiz
Amaterasu, yokai, and the spirit world — explore the rich mythology of Japan.
Amaterasu, yokai, and the spirit world — explore the rich mythology of Japan.
This Japanese mythology quiz draws from a pool of 50 questions covering the gods, spirits, and legends of Japan. Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion, recognizes over 8 million kami — divine spirits that inhabit everything from mountains and rivers to trees and stones, forming one of the most richly populated mythological traditions in the world.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from our pool of 50, so no two attempts are the same. Every question is multiple choice with four options. You get instant feedback after each answer with a detailed explanation, and you can share your final score with friends.
Questions span the major deities like Amaterasu and Susanoo, the terrifying world of yokai such as kitsune and oni, beloved folk tales like Momotaro and Kaguya-hime, Shinto rituals and sacred places, Buddhist influences on Japanese belief, and the ghostly realm of yurei. You might be surprised to learn that the tanuki — a real Japanese raccoon dog — became one of mythology's most beloved trickster figures.
Amaterasu Omikami is the sun goddess and the most important deity in Japanese Shinto mythology. She is considered the ancestor of the Imperial family of Japan and rules over Takamagahara (the High Celestial Plain). According to myth, she once hid in a cave, plunging the world into darkness, and the other gods had to lure her out with a mirror and a lively celebration.
Yokai are supernatural beings in Japanese folklore that range from malevolent demons to mischievous tricksters to benevolent spirits. The category includes creatures like kitsune (fox spirits), tanuki (raccoon dog shapeshifters), oni (ogres or demons), tengu (bird-like mountain spirits), and kappa (water creatures). There are hundreds of different yokai, many catalogued in Edo-period illustrated scrolls.
Shinto is Japan's indigenous spiritual tradition focused on kami (spirits or gods) found in nature, while Buddhism arrived from China and Korea around the 6th century CE. Shinto emphasizes purity, nature worship, and rituals at shrines (jinja), while Buddhism focuses on enlightenment, karma, and worship at temples (tera). Most Japanese people practice elements of both, visiting shrines for New Year and life celebrations, and temples for funerals and ancestor remembrance.
Last updated: March 2026