Kagome is a modern high-school girl from Tokyo. She's a typical teenager who worries about doing well in school. She's naturally kind-hearted, and a little short-fused. Her family owns a shrine, however, she doesn't believe in myths and superstitions...until now. She is believed to be a reincarnation of the village priestess of the small village Kagome comes across when transported into the past. She finds that she has special powers that normal people don't have. She also discovered that she had the powerful Shikon Jewel in her possession. Unfortunately, due to a little accident and it broke. So she travels between her two worlds with Inu Yasha and others gathering the pieces before they fall into evil hands.

Inu Yasha is a half demon who was put to eternal sleep by Kikyou's sealing arrow. He was later awoken by Kagome 50 years later. Controlled by Kagome, by a magical rosary around his neck, Inu Yasha helps Kagome in the search for the pieces of Shikon shards. He's a rather gruff, and appears indifferent to his friends. However, as the story goes on, he seems to be more affectionate than what he shows. He has a very complex relationship Kikyou and Kagome. As he is a only half demon, on the first of every month he changes into a normal human being, a secret not to be known by other people for value of his life.

Kikyou was the village priestess who guarded her village in ancient Japan from evil. She was a kind-hearted person and liked to help people. She protected the powerful Shikon Jewel from evil. However she was critically injured but before she died, she shot Inu Yasha with an enchanted arrow, sending him to eternal sleep. After she died, the Shikon Jewel was cremated with her body. Later on in the story, she was resurrected and we are able to find out more about her past, especially her relationship with Inu Yasha.

Lady Kaede is Kikyou's younger sister, and is now the village priestess after Kikyou died. As the priestess, she has many powers but, due to her old age, she has grown weak. This is why she needs Kagome to help her. She believes that Kagome is the reincarnation of her deceased sister, and with her power and Inu Yasha's strength, Kagome can protect the Shikon Jewel from evil demons and people.

Shippou is a cute little orphaned kitsune. He is the first to join the gang. As he is still young, his powers are not yet fully developed but he is able to disguise himself in many forms. He soon forms some sort of a brotherly attachment to Inu Yasha and cares a lot for the gang.

Miroku is a perverted buddist priest. He likes to introduce himself to any pretty girl and then asks them to have his baby. He does have a serious side though and is also quite intelligent. Unfortunate for him, his family has been cursed to have an Air Rip on their right hand. This is like a black hole which sucks in everything around him. This is quite useful in battles, but unfortunately, as time goes on the power of the Air Rip grow he is in more potential danger of being sucked in himself. This was how his previous ancesters died.

Sango was a demon exterminator, as was her family. She fights with a huge boomerang and went around killing demons while collecting the Shikon Jewel shards. One night her family was killed by a spider demon and was told by Naraku that Inu Yasha attacked her village. During the revenge, Sango learns the truth and becomes part of the gang together with her pet, Kirara, a cat like demon that grows huge when it senses danger.

Myoga is a flea demon. He was the retainer to Inu Yasha and his father. After Inu's father died Myoga was to guard the powerful sword, the Tetsusaiga, made by Inu Yasha's father's tooth. It was found that the sword was made to be used by the half demon to protect humans. Also the sword has the abilities to suppress Inu Yasha's demonic side. Myoga pops up now and again at quiet times to travel and help Inu Yasha. Although he always disappears during battles, he does helps in providing some background knowledge of unknown demons has he has a great knowledge of types of demons, usually picked up though his travels.

Sesshomaru is the half brother of Inu Yasha but unlike Inu Yasha, he is 100% demon. He hates humans hence the reason he hates Inu Yasha. He wants a powerful sword and so hewent to look for the Tetsusaiga. However, he found out that he could not use the sword because of his demonic blood and looses his arm in the process of trying to get the sword from Inu Yasha. He does possess another powerful sword though, the Tetseiga. However this sword does not kill but revives the dead. Later, with the help of Naraku, he gains a human arm and is able to wield the Tetsusaiga and was able to show the sword's true power. However, he was still defeated in the end by Inu Yasha. After studying Inu Yasha's every move, he finally finds that a demon (Naraku's 3rd offspring) was able to break the Tetsusaiga. After the demon was killed, a new sword was made from it's tooth and Sesshomaru decides to use it against Inu Yasha. Although he hates humans, he becomes friends with a little girl called Rin, who saved and looked after him when he was badly injured.

Jaken is the servant of Sesshomaru. He has this staff of heads, which was used to locate the Tetsusaiga.

One day Kikyou found a badly burned criminal named Onigumu. This man was pure evil and loved Kikyou in a twisted way. He was so evil that demons are attracted to him. As he was badly wounded, he had no power left and badly wanted great power. So in return for this power, he gave the demons his soul. The demons gave him strength by eating Onigumo and bocoming one, resulting in Naraku.
Naraku is one of the most powerful demons in this series. He has the ability to control puppets through wooden dolls to attack Inu and the gang. This way he will not get hurt. He can also transform so no-one has ever seen Naraku. However, even though he is a demon, he still cannot get rid of the human nature that is still within him. This is shown by the spider-like burn mark on his back that was left there by badly burned Onigumo. Because of this he stirs up trouble with other humans and demons, hence manipulating them to hunt and kill Inu Yasha. His main rival is Kagome, who has the ability to purify all evil with a shot of her bow. An encounter with Kagome left Naraku very weak. Later on, he meets Kikyou and she gives him the Shikon fragment that she stole from Kagome and he inherits a new ability, reproducing offspring.

One of the few offsprings of Naraku who actually survived. She is a wind user; i.e. She has the ability to use wind to her advantage, be it to fight or run away. She is a bit like wind, wanting to be free, to do what she wants, and not take orders from Naraku. She has tried to run away but failed because Naraku has control over her life. However, she is trying to plot against Naraku and is keeping many vital secrets from him.

Another offspring of Naraku. She doesn't fight much, though she did try and suck out Kagome's soul with her mirror she carries all the time. Unlike Kagura, she is very loyal to Naraku. She helps Naraku keep an eye on his youkai and Inu Yasha via her mirror.

Kouga is a wolf Youkai and is the leader of the pack. He is looking for shikon shards to to make him stronger, but not for evil purposes. For this reason, Kagome trusts him with the shikon shards he has in his arms and legs. He likes Kagome, and always claims her as his woman. For this reason, he has a grudge against Inu Yasha and constantly fight when they see each other. However, when the going gets tough, they do help each other fight the bad guys.

Rin's a little girl who helped Sesshomaru when he was badly injured. Later on, she got killed and Sesshomaru revived her with the Tenseiga. From then on she became his follower, and the only human Sesshomaru cares about and protects.