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
Ichiza Shrine
Nara
Local protective deitiesIchiza Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, serving as a community religious...
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Iwatotsuko Wakegi Shrine
Fukushima
Ajisukitakahikone no MikotoA historic shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto, known for its an...
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Sugiyama Shrine
Kanagawa
Local protective deitiesSugiyama Shrine is one of numerous shrines bearing this name throughout Kanagawa Prefecture, particu...
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Takamu Shrine
Gifu
Local protective deitiesTakamu Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving as a spiritual center for...
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Toshinuki Shrine
Kagoshima
Local protective deitiesToshinuki Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture. The shrine serves as a sp...
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Tsufuro Shrine
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Local water and mountain deitiesTsufuro Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in the mountainous Yoshino region of Nara Prefecture...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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