Hinduism in Japan

Japanese Hindus
日本のヒンズー教徒
The "Om" symbol in Katakana[a]
Total population
Increase 320000 (0.26%) (2025)
Languages
Liturgical: Sanskrit

Hinduism is a minority religion in Japan mainly followed by the Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepali expatriate residents of Japan, who number about 320,000 people as of mid 2025.[1]

History

Depiction of Hindu deity Krishna playing the flute in a temple constructed in 752 CE on the order of Emperor Shomu, Todai-ji Temple, Great Buddha Hall in Nara, Japan

Hindu deities have been integrated into Japanese religious culture and several deities are worshiped for good luck.[2] In fact there are many deities that are still worshiped in Japan which have long been forgotten in India.[3]

Present situation

Benzaiten shrine, Inokashira Park

Hinduism is practiced mainly by Nepali, Indian and Sri Lankan migrants, although there are others. As of 2025, there are 63,472 Sri Lankans, 60,975 Indians and 273,043 Nepalis in Japan.[4] [5][6]

Hindu temples in Japan are as follows:

The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated that 0.07% of the population of Japan were Hindu in 2020.[7]

References

  1. ^ "令和６年６月末現在における在留外国人数について | 出入国在留管理庁". www.moj.go.jp. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  2. ^ "Japan's Hindu Linkages Still Alive". hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. ^ "Hindu deities in Japan". Frontline. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  4. ^ "Number of foreign residents in Japan hits record high: surge in foreign labour". The Straits Times. 10 October 2025.
  5. ^ Ministry of Justice Statistics
  6. ^ "データセット一覧". e-stat (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Japan, Religion And Social Profile". thearda.com. Retrieved 2023-06-04.

Notes

  1. ^ オーム (U+30AA & U+30FC & U+30E0)
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