Within what is often called Neo‑Shintoism, there is no single, distinct priestly system that stands apart from the structures of mainstream Shinto. Where institutional forms are present, they typically draw on the familiar shrine priesthood—kannushi and related roles—rather than creating an entirely new sacramental caste. Leadership in these contexts tends to be continuous with the established shrine tradition, even when the underlying ideas are being reinterpreted in more philosophical or modern terms. Thus, Neo‑Shinto expressions that remain close to shrine practice usually rely on the same ritual specialists and organizational bodies that support conventional Shinto life.

At the same time, many Neo‑Shinto currents are driven less by hereditary priests and more by thinkers, teachers, and lay leaders who articulate new understandings of the kami and ritual. Their authority is primarily intellectual or spiritual rather than strictly institutional, grounded in interpretation and teaching rather than in a formal, separate priesthood. Some movements may have organized leadership or charismatic founders, while others function with minimal structure, emphasizing personal engagement with the sacred. Across this spectrum, the pattern that emerges is one in which philosophical reflection and individual spiritual development are often given priority over rigid hierarchical arrangements.

Because of this, Neo‑Shintoism is better understood as a range of reinterpretations that make use of existing Shinto frameworks while loosening the centrality of priestly mediation. Ritual leaders, shrine keepers, and ceremonial officiants may still play important roles, yet they coexist with lay practitioners who seek a more direct relationship with the kami. When hierarchy appears, it is frequently tied to knowledge, teaching, or organizational responsibility rather than to an entirely new, codified priestly order. The result is a landscape in which formal priesthood persists where it is inherited from traditional Shinto, but is not the defining feature of Neo‑Shinto thought or practice.