Kami, a myriad of invisible spirits – in trees, waterfalls and animals, representing the creative force of the universe – are at the heart of Shinto, a tradition without a founder, doctrine or sacred texts. THE GATES OF SHINTO reveals the cosmic, intimate relationships between people and the kami, and how these values and traditions have influenced Japanese culture. We relate the myth of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, on a pilgrimage that pays homage to nature and the ancestors, through the martial arts, ancient ceremonies, festivals and rarely accessible rituals, including within the inner sanctuaries of Ise Jingu.