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
Akiba Daijin Shrine
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Akiba Daijin (fire prevention deity)A shrine dedicated to Akiba Daijin, a deity associated with fire prevention and protection from fire...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is traditionally associated with protection from fires...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-mikoto (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is particularly revered for protection against fires a...
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Akiba Shrine
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Akiba-no-Kami (fire prevention deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire prevention and protection from conflagrations. The name 'Akiba' de...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-Mikoto (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is traditionally visited for protection against fires...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-mikoto (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is particularly known for fire prevention and protecti...
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Akibasan Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-Mikoto (fire deity)Akibasan Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is particularly revered for fire prevention and pro...
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Akibasan Shrine
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Kagutsuchi no MikotoAkibasan Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is particularly revered for fire prevention and pro...
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Akibasan Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-mikoto (fire deity)Akibasan Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is particularly revered for fire prevention and pro...
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Akiha Shrine
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Akiha-no-kami (fire prevention deity)Akiha Shrine is dedicated to fire prevention and protection from conflagrations. These shrines are f...
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Kagutsuchi Shrine
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Kagutsuchi, the fire deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to Kagutsuchi, the powerful fire deity from Japanese mythology. Kagutsuchi...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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