Amaterasu

Amaterasu Ōmikami (天照大御神), often simply called Amaterasu, is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. She is also known by other names such as Amateru Kami (天照神) and Ōhirume no Muchi (大日孁貴). Widely regarded as the chief deity of the Shinto pantheon, she features prominently in Japan’s earliest literary works, the Kojiki (circa 712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE). In these texts, she is described as the ruler—or one of the rulers—of the heavenly realm Takamagahara and as the mythological ancestress of Japan’s Imperial family through her grandson Ninigi.

Amaterasu is one of the "Three Precious Children" (三貴子, mihashira no uzu no miko or sankishi), the most important offspring of the creator deity Izanagi, alongside her siblings Tsukuyomi, the moon god, and Susanoo, the storm god.

Her principal place of worship is the Grand Shrine of Ise, located in Ise, Mie Prefecture. This shrine is one of the most sacred sites in Shinto and serves as both a pilgrimage destination and a popular tourist location. In addition to the Ise Shrine, Amaterasu is honored at numerous Shinto shrines throughout Japan.