There are various religions in Japan. The most unique one of all is a Shugendo which is made by mixing traditional Shinto and ancient mountain worship with Chinese Taoism, Indian Buddhism, and Siberian Shamanism.
Shinbutsu-shugo
I'd like to mention the idea of "Shinbutsu-shugo". I said shugendo is made of plural religions. To translate literally, it means a syncretistic fusion of Shintoism and Buddhism.
This phenomenon or idea of Shinbutsu-Shugo is one of the greatest features of Japanese religion. There are few religious conflicts in Japan different seen in other countries. It is often said that Japanese does not care much about the difference of religion, but the background is also the idea of this Shinbutsu-Shugo, which generates, in a good word, "generous", in a bad word, "half hearted", attitude.
EN no Gyoja
The founder of Shugendo is said to be an EN no Gyoja. EN no Gyoja's profile is wrapped in mystery. Legend says in his teens, he studied the magic of Kujaku Myouou, then performed ascetic performances repeatedly in the forests of Kumano or Oomine mountains, and in his 41 years old, prayed to emerge the Zao Gongen which is a guardian deity of Shugendo in the Kinpusen mountains of Yohino.
He was good at magic art. He expressed various magical works such as forcing the fierce god to make bridge on the river. However, he was given a slanderous account, and imprisoned. It is said he used to fly out of jail to Mount Fuji freely. After released from prison, it is said he flew up to the sky with his mother and went to China.