In Japan, a shrine (jinja, 神社) is a place of worship in Shinto, the indigenous religion that honours kami (神) — sacred spirits tied to nature, ancestors, heroes, and remarkable places. Unlike a church or temple built mainly for sermons, a shrine is a living threshold between everyday life and the sacred: a grove, a gate, a hall, and open ground where people pause, bow, and leave offerings.
Shrines appear throughout daily life in Japan. Neighbours visit a local ujigami shrine for protection; students pray for exams at a Tenjin shrine; merchants favour Inari shrines; families buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortune slips; and at New Year millions attend hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year. Festivals (matsuri), weddings, and seasonal rituals still centre on shrine communities, even when faith is quiet or personal.
Many shrine grounds also overlap with the world of folklore on this site. Fox messengers at Inari shrines connect to kitsune legends; thunder kami echo Raijin; boundary stones and sacred trees often appear in yōkai tales. Understanding shrines helps place those creatures in their real cultural setting — not only as story monsters, but as beings once approached with respect at the altar.
Search by name, prefecture, city, or shrine type below. Each listing notes enshrined kami, location, and a short description where available. Open a shrine page for maps, visitor notes, and links to official sites when we have them.
30,440 shrines found
新潟市, 新潟県
InariLocated in the heart of New Nagasaki, a historic district in Niigata City, Matsudai Shrine is one of...
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新潟市, 新潟県
Benten-sama静田神社, located in the heart of Shinjuku's Shitamachi district, is a historic Shinto shrine that h...
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加茂市, 新潟県
Tenman-guLocated in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Tenman-ji Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated t...
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新潟市, 新潟県
nullDainichi Shrine in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture was the first Shinto shrine established by the Imperi...
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小千谷市, 新潟県
nullThe Twelve Great Shining Deities Shrine, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the most fa...
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魚沼市, 新潟県
TamamoLocated in the city of Saiwai, Niigata Prefecture is not the correct location. However, in the corre...
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阿賀野市, 新潟県
Located in the scenic city of Aga-no-shi, Gokoku-ji Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and is a po...
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新潟市, 新潟県
Ōin大神宮 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of New City, Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the wor...
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Aoshi Shrine
長岡市, 新潟県
AmaterasuAoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Midori, Nagano prefecture, but was originally...
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Itai Jinja Shrine
新潟市, 新潟県
InariLocated in the heart of Niigata City, Itai Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity In...
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Kingyoku Jinja Shrine
新潟市, 新潟県
TenzaiinKingyoku Jinja Shrine, located in Niigata City, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of prosperi...
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Kingyokuinari Jinja Shrine
新潟市, 新潟県
InariKingyokuinari Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Niigata City, dedicated to Ina...
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Otate Hachimangu Shrine
新潟市, 新潟県
HachimanOtate Hachimangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of New Chitose Airport's city, New C...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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