kamidana; household Shinto altar
A small household Shinto altar, typically a shelf high on a wall, where offerings are made and prayers are said to kami.
毎朝、神棚に手を合わせる。
Every morning I pray at the kamidana.
神棚には榊とお神酒を供える。
We offer sakaki branches and sacred sake at the kamidana.
神棚 is a small Shinto shelf placed in a home to enshrine kami, whereas 祭壇 refers to larger, often freestanding altars used in various religious settings.
Compound of 神 (kami, 'deity') and 棚 (tana, 'shelf'), literally 'god shelf'.