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
Minato Shinmeisha Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiMinato Shinmeisha is a Shinmei shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. As indicated b...
View shrine →Nakajima Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiNakajima Shinmei Shrine is a Shinmei-type shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and...
View shrine →Nishinaka Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiNishinaka Shinmei Shrine is a local Shinmei shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. L...
View shrine →Nishinokuchi Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinmei shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and principal deity of the Shinto p...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a common name for Shinto shrines dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess a...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a common name for Shinto shrines dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess a...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a type of Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and princi...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a common name for Shinto shrines dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess a...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
Akita
Amaterasu OmikamiGodai-jinja Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Godai, wh...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity of the Shinto pa...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei shrines are dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity of the Shinto...
View shrine →Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei-sha are Shinto shrines dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and principal deity o...
View shrine →Shinmeisha Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmeisha is a common name for Shinto shrines dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and p...
View shrine →Shinmeisha Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmeisha is a type of Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme de...
View shrine →Shinmeisha Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmeisha is a type of Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme de...
View shrine →Takatori Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiTakatori Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and princ...
View shrine →Tozaki Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiTozaki Shinmei Shrine is a local Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and p...
View shrine →Yoshihama Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiYoshihama Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supr...
View shrine →Yoshikawa Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiYoshikawa Shinmei Shrine is a local Shinmei shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess a...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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