They went to ame-no-ukihashi (天浮橋, The Floating Bridge of Heaven) connected to Earth, which was still just a floating mass of water. Izanagi and Izanami were tasked by the elder kami with kuniumi (国産み, Birth of the Country). Izanagi and Izanami are two of the most important kami and are said to be the parents of hundreds to millions of other kami. The last pair of the kamiyo-nanayo were Izanami (伊邪那美神, She-Who-Invites) and her brother Izanagi (伊邪那岐神, He-Who-Invites). While there is an innumerable amout of kami now, the Japanese creation myth shows how the first 17, the 5 kotoamatsukami and the 12 kamiyo-nanayo, emerged. Also like many myths throughout the world, these pairs were husband and wife, but also brother and sister. Two more hitorigami appeared, followed by five pairs of male-female kami. After these kami emerged, they went into hiding.įrom there emerged the kamiyo-nanayo (神世七代, The Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods). These five kami (神, god or deity) were hitorigami (独神, Lone God) because they appeared spontaneously (as opposed to a male-female pair, which most gods are said to come from), didn't have a partner, and were essentially gender-less. Three came into being before the last two and are known as the zouka-sanshin (造化三神, The Three Creation Gods).

When heaven was formed, five deities, the kotoamatsukami (別天津神, The Separate Heavenly Gods) appeared. The heavier particles couldn't float up, so they formed a mass called Earth below heaven. The lighter particles floated up to form the clouds of takamagahara (高天原, The Plain of High Heaven). Light floated up faster than the particles, so the light is above the universe. Within this chaos, particles and light started to move. Like many creation myths around the world, the universe started as silent chaos.

The creation myth is a little different in the Kojiki compared to the Nihon Shoki, but most people go by the Kojiki version, so that's what I'll be using. I'm going to tell that story in (hopefully) plain language. While Japanese people don't believe this anymore, the creation story is a good place to start if you're interested in Japanese mythology and how it impacts Japanese culture. Some of the figures in the creation myth are rarely mentioned since the books were written, but some play important roles in other Japanese legends and Shintoism. This includes cosmogony, or the creation story of the world and the universe. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.Japan's oldest historical record, the Kojiki (古事記 Records of Ancient Matters, 712 CE), and the second oldest book of Japanese history, the Nihon Shoki (日本書紀 The Chronicles of Japan, 720 CE) are both full of Shinto (the polytheistic religion native to Japan) myths and legends. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.Ĭulture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special. Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.Ĭulture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful - and this is still in our DNA today.

Kami japanese folklore