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
渋川市, 群馬県
TsukuyomiLocated in the town of Shinshū, Gunma Prefecture, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to Tsukuyomi-no-ka...
View shrine →高崎市, 群馬県
Minakuchi no KamiTonosawa Shrine, located in Gunma Prefecture's highlands, is renowned for its breathtaking natural s...
View shrine →安中市, 群馬県
Yamatonomine no OkamiLocated in Anjo City, Gunma Prefecture, Omise-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of agricul...
View shrine →東吾妻町, 群馬県
Odo no OkamiLocated in the town of Ōgawara, Gunma Prefecture, 甲波宿禰神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the d...
View shrine →太田市, 群馬県
Kamiya Okami賀茂神社, located in Hitachi Seike, Gunma Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agr...
View shrine →高崎市, 群馬県
Fuksu-jinsha, a Shinto shrine located in Highgate Cemetery, London, is one of the few remaining Japa...
View shrine →太田市, 群馬県
HachimanIse Grand Shrine's eastern counterpart in Japan, Oda no Imasan, also called Ise Hachiman Taisha's si...
View shrine →Nitta Shrine
太田市, 群馬県
Nitta Shrine, located in the city of Taita, Gunma Prefecture, is a historic Shinto temple dedicated...
View shrine →Santai Shrine
前橋市, 群馬県
Santai Shrine, located in front of the old bridge that spans the river, is a serene Shinto sanctuary...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
藤岡市, 群馬県
Suwa-no-kamisabake-no-mikotoSuwa Shrine, located in Fujokawa City, Gunma Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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