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
Bessho Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-kamiBessho Kotohira Shrine is a local Kotohira shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-...
View shrine →Kotohira Owashi Shrine
Kanagawa
Okuninushi no Mikoto and Yamato Takeru no MikotoA Kotohira shrine dedicated to the protection of seafarers and travelers, combining worship of Okuni...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-KamiKotohira Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture is dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Kami and follows the Kotohira t...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
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Ōmononushi-no-MikotoKotohira Shrine is dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Mikoto, a deity associated with sea protection, safe t...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
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Ōmononushi-no-KamiKotohira Shrine is dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Kami, a deity associated with safe travel, maritime pr...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
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Ōmononushi-no-kamiKotohira Shrine is dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-kami, a deity associated with safe travel, maritime pr...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Gifu
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA Kotohira shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-kami, the primary deity of the Kotoh...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Gifu
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA Kotohira shrine dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-kami, following the tradition of the famous Kotohiragu...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Gifu
Ōmononushi-no-mikotoA Kotohira shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-mikoto, the deity of prosperity, goo...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Gifu
Ōmono-nushi-no-mikotoA local Kotohira shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to maritime safety and prosperity. Like other K...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Gifu
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA local shrine dedicated to Kotohira-san, the deity associated with maritime safety, prosperity, and...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
ŌmononushiKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi, the deity of pros...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-MikotoKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Mikoto, the dei...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA Kotohira shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deity of seafaring, prosperity, and good f...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA Kotohira shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-kami, the protective deity of se...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi no KamiKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi no Kami, the deity...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kochi
ŌmononushiKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi, the deity of sea saf...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kochi
Okuninushi no MikotoKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, the deity...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kochi
Ōmono-nushi no KamiKotohira Shrine, commonly known as Konpira-san, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines dedicat...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kochi
ŌmononushiA major Shinto shrine dedicated to Ōmononushi, widely revered as the protector of seafarers, fisherm...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kochi
Ōmononushi-no-mikotoKotohira Shrine, commonly known as Konpira-san, is one of Japan's most famous shrines dedicated to m...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kochi
ŌmononushiKotohira Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is dedicated to Ōmononushi, the deity of safe voyages and prospe...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kanagawa
Ōmononushi-no-KamiA Kotohira shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Kami, following the traditions o...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
Kanagawa
Ōmononushi-no-KamiKotohira Shrine is dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Kami, a deity associated with safe sea voyages, commer...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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