World’s First Shrine for Stuffed Animals Opens in Kyoto

Jun 23, 2026 | News On Japan

KYOTO - A shrine believed to be the world’s first dedicated to stuffed animals was established on June 20 in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, giving owners a place to express gratitude for beloved plush toys and hold memorial rites for those that have finished their role.

The new Nuigurumi Shrine opened in Miyama, a district of Nantan, with a wooden torii gate fitted with ears and worship hall windows shaped like bears.

The shrine was created by a company that repairs stuffed animals. With some plush toys eventually reaching a point where repairs are no longer possible, the company said it wanted to create a place where owners could give thanks to the stuffed animals that had supported them over the years.

Visitors can bring their favorite stuffed animals to pray at the shrine, while plush toys that have completed their role can be memorialized there.

"I hope people of all ages, from children to adults, will visit and that together we can nurture a warm spirit of kindness and compassion," said Komichi Horiguchi, who led the creation of the shrine.

People visiting the shrine with stuffed animals in hand said the site felt approachable despite being a shrine. "It has become a place that is easy to feel close to," one woman said. "I think it is a place that soothes the heart."

The shrine also plans to build a dedicated facility to store the ashes of stuffed animals after memorial burning rites, a plush-toy version of an ossuary.

ぬいぐるみを祀る世界初の神社が京都に創建

ぬいぐるみを祀る神社としては世界初とみられる「ぬいぐるみ神社」が6月20日、京都府南丹市に創建され、持ち主が大切なぬいぐるみに感謝の気持ちを伝えたり、役目を終えたぬいぐるみを供養したりできる場となっている。

全球首座供奉毛绒玩具的神社在京都建成

一座被认为是全球首个供奉毛绒玩具的神社于6月20日在京都府南丹市建成，为主人提供一个向心爱的毛绒玩具表达感谢，并为完成使命的毛绒玩具举行供养仪式的场所。

Source: MBS

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