Religion at Your Fingertips: Shintoism in an Ordinary Apartment in Poland
- Inari-Sama Shop
- May 26
- 6 min read
Daria is the journalist who interviewed me for this article. She covers culture and society and writes interviews and original articles.
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Setting up a kamidana (a home Shinto altar) is an extremely rare and exotic practice in our part of the world. My name is Daria, and for the author of this site (Ilya), it’s not just a matter of aesthetics, but a living, daily spiritual practice.
We talked about how to win the favor of Kami Inari, why working with your hands teaches you more than working with your mind (which the owner of Inari-Sama Shop does every day as a content manager), and how to create a sacred space using materials on hand, watercolor paper, and items from Jysk.
Section 1: Introduction and Concept
Daria: Setting up a kamidana at home is a fairly rare practice in Eastern Europe. Tell me, why did you decide to set up a Shinto altar specifically? What does it mean to you personally?
Illia: I’ve been drawn to Japanese culture since childhood; it all started with my introduction to anime. Later, I began to seriously engage in spiritual practices, so this background feels close and familiar to me.
For me, Shintoism is a connection to something incredibly beautiful. It’s a religion that lives at your fingertips. It doesn’t try to be something grand, oppressive, or distant from people. It’s here, in every little thing, in daily life, in the space around us.
Daria: In the photos, we see a lot of symbolism related to kitsune foxes. Am I correct in understanding that your altar is dedicated to Kami Inari? Why her specifically?
Illia: Yes, absolutely correct. My altar is dedicated specifically to Inari-sama. I think she’s incredibly cool. She’s kind, generous, and—which is extremely important to me—as inclusive as possible. She welcomes absolutely everyone, regardless of their orientation, skin color, or mindset. There’s no room for judgment in her space.
Section 2: Creation and materials
“I focused on aesthetics and authenticity, not on luxury or expensive materials. For Kami, what matters is your intention, not the receipt from the store.”
Daria: When you look at the wide shot of the corner (photo #1), where the Shimenawa straw charm and Shide paper streamers are hung, the scale of the work is impressive. Did you buy ready-made elements or make some of them yourself? How long did this project take?
Illia: Almost everything you see on the altar, except for the mini-shrine (omiya) itself, the porcelain dishes, and the fox figurines, was made by my own hands. The entire project took about a month of methodical daily work.
I used regular pine wood, craft sticks from a store, and boards from a local Epicenter. The paper for the shide ribbons is sturdy sheets from a standard watercolor sketchbook. My tools were as simple as possible: wood glue, a glue gun, a metal saw, a utility knife, and sandpaper. I deliberately focused on aesthetics and sincerity, rather than luxury or expensive materials.
Daria: What about the traditional rope made of rice straw and green sakaki branches, which are essential for a kamidana? Where did you get them?
Illia: Oh, that’s a whole other quest! We currently live in Łódź, and finding rice straw here is almost impossible. So I used palm straw rope for weaving (it has some funny name of its own). And the green twigs came in a high-quality artificial set along with omiya—it’s a wonderful, durable substitute for sakaki.
Daria: A keen-eyed reader is sure to notice the fox figurines (for example, in photo number two). Where did you find these little guardians?
Illia: I’ll be honest: it’s practically impossible to find authentic foxes for an Inari altar in Europe. I went through countless options, and the only foxes that truly captured my heart and matched the spirit of the altar were found in a well-known shop in China. So yes, my foxes are authentically Chinese (smiles). As for the porcelain offering set (shingu) along with the wooden house, I searched for a very long time in shopping malls and specialty stores, but eventually ordered it online. I got lucky: they came as a set.
Daria: In the photo (number 3), you can also see a stand with wooden ema plaques. The drawings of foxes on them look very unique. Did you draw them yourself? What is written on them?
Illia: I drew them myself. In traditional Japanese Inari shrines, ema plaques with a pre-drawn outline of a fox’s face are often sold, and people add funny facial expressions and emotions to them at home. I followed this tradition. These plaques contain the sincere wishes of my friends, family, and, of course, my clients. My altar is open to the world.
Section 3: Practice, Atmosphere, and Everyday Magic
Daria: The altar looks magical in the evening light (photo #4). The candles have a very interesting texture, similar to natural beeswax. Tell me, what does your daily ritual look like, and what role does the atmosphere play in it?
Illia: I’ll let you in on another secret of our local craft: it’s actually not beeswax, but regular LED candles from Jysk! I took some macramé cord, wrapped it around the candles, and soaked it in PVA glue so it would hold its shape and not slip off. It’s safe, aesthetically pleasing, and creates that same cozy glow.
As for the ritual, my partner and I share it. We always follow the rule of temiz (ritual hand-washing before interacting with the altar). My partner handles the rice and salt on the offerings, while my area of responsibility is fresh water. I have a strict rule: the first water I drink each day goes to the Gods first, and only then to me.
Daria: And what happens to the rice, salt, and water after you replace them?
Illia: We have a very eco-friendly and respectful approach to this. Yesterday’s water is used to water our houseplants. When I do this, I mentally explain to Kami that this sacred water will now blossom and live in the leaves of our plants. And we collect the salt and rice in separate little bowls, and then use them when cooking. For us, this is a way to celebrate that we are consuming sacred food that has been on the altar.
Daria: Do you use canonical prayers (norito) during your practices?
Illia: When I address the Kami, I say my prayers in my own words. I don’t memorize complex texts — I speak as sincerely as possible, exactly as my heart feels in that moment. However, when I create omamori protective amulets, I include traditional prayers from Soki Ono’s classic book Shinto: The Kami Way. This book, along with countless hours of thoughtful Googling, has become my main guide.
Section 4: Lessons Learned Through Hands-On Work
Daria: In the end, what turned out to be the hardest part of this month-long process?
Illia: The hardest part was the methodical, long, and monotonous work. While building the altar, things would often break, the glue wouldn’t hold, and things wouldn’t go according to plan. At first, I was very nervous and would get frustrated by the setbacks. But it was precisely through this process that I learned a fundamental lesson: repetition is a form of servitude.
I realized that working with your hands teaches and transforms you far more than working with your mind. When you calm your mind through monotonous movements, pure peace comes. And throughout this entire month, despite the difficulties, I physically felt Inari-sama’s presence right beside me.
Daria: What is the main piece of advice you would give to someone who also wants to create their own sacred space at home?
Illia: Be patient. Not everything will come at once, and far from everything will work out on the first try. Welcoming Kami into your home is like preparing for the arrival of a very, very important and dear guest. You need to put things in order not only in the room but also in your thoughts. But looking back, I’ll say this: even if I had to prepare for this not for a month, but for several years—I would have done it anyway.
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