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
Amaterasu Daijingu
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiA shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon. A...
View shrine →
Amaterasu Kotaijingu
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiA shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon. A...
View shrine →
Amaterasu Kotaijingu Shrine
Nara
Amaterasu OmikamiA shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon. A...
View shrine →
Atsuta Kodaijingu
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiAtsuta Kodaijingu is a prominent Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, th...
View shrine →
Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the same deities as the famous Atsuta Shrine in Nago...
View shrine →
Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
Atsuta no OkamiA local Atsuta Shrine in Gifu Prefecture, likely sharing its name and dedication with the famous Ats...
View shrine →
Atsuta Shrine (Yamato Takeru)
Wakayama
Yamato Takeru no MikotoA Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, the legendary prince an...
View shrine →
Chikanawa Daijingu
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiChikanawa Daijingu is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture that serves as a regional center for the w...
View shrine →
Daijingu Shrine
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme d...
View shrine →
Geku (Outer Shrine)
Kanagawa
Toyouke-no-OmikamiThe Outer Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine, dedicated to Toyouke-no-Omikami, the deity of agriculture, ind...
View shrine →
Goshobara Daijingu
Yamaguchi
Amaterasu OmikamiGoshobara Daijingu is a Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the su...
View shrine →
Higashi Kirishima Shrine
Miyazaki
Igisu no MikotoHigashi Kirishima Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located on the slopes of Mount Kirishima in Miy...
View shrine →
Imadera Daijingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiImadera Daijingu is a shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture that follows the daijingu tradition, indicating...
View shrine →
Ise Shrine
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiA local Ise Shrine in Kochi Prefecture, one of many shrines throughout Japan that enshrine Amaterasu...
View shrine →
Ise Shrine
Kagoshima
Amaterasu OmikamiA local Ise Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. Like many...
View shrine →
Ise Shrine
Miyazaki
Amaterasu OmikamiA local Ise Shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. Like many...
View shrine →
Iseyama Kotai Jingu
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiIseyama Kotai Jingu is a prominent Shinto shrine in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to Amat...
View shrine →
Izawa Shrine
—
Amaterasu-OmikamiOne of the most sacred auxiliary shrines of Ise Grand Shrine, located in Shima City, Mie Prefecture....
View shrine →
Kagamitsukuri-niimasu Amaterasu Mitama Shrine
Nara
Amaterasu Mitama-no-KamiA historic shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Mitama-no-Kami, closely associated with...
View shrine →
Kawahara Daijingu Shrine
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiKawahara Daijingu is an Imperial shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the s...
View shrine →
Kirishima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ninigi-no-MikotoA historic Shinto shrine located in the volcanic Kirishima mountain range of Kagoshima Prefecture, d...
View shrine →
Kochi Daijingu
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiKochi Daijingu is a prominent Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the...
View shrine →
Kodai Jinja
Nara
Amaterasu OmikamiKodai Jinja is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess an...
View shrine →
Kodai Shrine
Wakayama
Amaterasu OmikamiKodai Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun godde...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
A pixel art map of Japanese culture — coming 2027
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.