I have taught an introductory English-language course to religions in Japan for several years making use of available online resources . The course provides both home and exchange students with a cursory overview of religions in Japan, their history, and their present status, and presents some wider issues related to the study of religions in Japan. Because I was immersed in them, I assumed that the online resources I used are widely known. It had never crossed my mind to write about them for The Digital Orientalist. However, I was forced to question this assumption when exploring the Resource Guide for Japanese Studies and Humanities in Japan* *and discovered numerous projects and resources across Japanese studies that I was not previously aware of. In this article, I offer a simple description of some of the online resources that I use in my classes on Shinto with notes on how I employ them. I do not mean to claim that these are the *best *online resources for teaching about Shinto (after all, the best tools is a definition relative to one’s aims). I have found each to be highly effective when used in English-language courses for those with little to no knowledge of the religion.

Shinto Portal

Shinto Portal is a website run by Kokugakuin University that compiles different resources on Shinto. It is a must visit for anyone teaching about Shinto in an English-medium classroom. I usually include the whole portal as a recommended resource for my students, though I use only a small fraction of it in my own classes.

A screenshot of part of Shinto Portal.

The website is divided into several sections, including the *Encyclopedia of Shinto, *Glossary, Books and Papers, Pictures, Movies, Articles, Chronological Tables, and Links. Those taking a historical focus may find the “A Brief Chronological Table of Shinto History” useful. I like to highlight the key events that we cover in class such as the presentation of the *Kōjiki *and Nihon shoki, the 16- and 22-shrine system, the completion of the Engishiki, and so on, encouraging students to look at the wider context of these events within the greater timeline. Something I find particularly valuable is the inclusion of information (albeit limited) on other traditions (Buddhism, Christianity etc.) and their interaction with Shinto. This helps to emphasize Japan’s history of interreligious dialogue, and drive home the fact that religions do not exist in vacuums.

Since my class is aimed at those with little knowledge of Shinto or religious studies, I also use like to use “Images of Shinto: A Beginner’s Pictorial Guide.” I often use the images in the guide alongside my own photographs (or those from other online resources). Whilst it is possible to copy-paste the images into a PowerPoint and explain them, the real perks is that the images are interactive when viewed through the webpage. Hovering over words at the bottom of the image highlights different parts of the image, and clicking on one of the words provides a simple definition in English and Japanese. This can help students to quickly learn Shinto terminology in an interactive way. I also use it for teaching students about the parts of a shrine in preparation for a shrine visit that we undertake as part of the course. The images relating to annual events and life rituals help to provide a general overview of Shinto practices especially when one has only a limited amount of time to focus on the religion.