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
Nagano
Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Shizukahachi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Nagano
Yamabiko-gamiHandatagashi Shrine, located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is a remote and lesser-known Shi...
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Nagano
Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, 虫倉神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inar...
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Nagano
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Eight Hells Shrine is one of Japan's most iconic Shinto s...
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Nagano
InariRiobon Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Nagano's city, Niigata-shi, but was o...
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Nagano
Gifu-dera Shrine, located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to t...
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Nagano
nullLocated in the town of Iizuna, Nagano Prefecture, Spontaneous Shrine is a small Shinto shrine dedica...
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Nagano
TakemikazuchiLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a sacred Shinto site dedica...
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Nagano
ShichizukuriHighly revered in the Niigata prefecture, Shōkōji Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto temple dedicated t...
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Nagano
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Shiitake Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Nagano
Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Oku-no-Eki Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is a lesser-known...
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Nagano
HachimanFuinokami Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of war and victory, located in the...
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Nagano
Otori no Michi no KamiTaka no Yu no Tsurugi Shrine, located in the town of Yabitsu in Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrin...
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Nagano
ŌkuninushiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, ancient Ōdaijinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site hono...
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Nagano
ŌtazawaLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Ōtazawa Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary that honors t...
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Nagano
Hachiman Ōno-maryō no Kami招魂社 Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is dedicated to the god of war, Hachiman Ōno-maryō no Kami, a pro...
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Nagano
Mt. Kiso's kamiThe Shiroko-jinja Shrine in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture is one of the oldest shrines in the region,...
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Nagano
InariLocated in the Nagano prefecture, three islands in Lake Biwa are said to be the origin of the three...
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Nagano
InariInari Okami Shrine in Nagano is a Shinto site famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, a t...
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Nagano
nullLocated in the picturesque town of Fujikawaguchi, Shibamayashiro-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple ded...
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Nagano
ŌkuninushiFukii-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iizaka, Nagano Prefecture. Dedicated to...
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Nagano
ZeLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Old Mother泽神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
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Nagano
Shichi no KamiLocated in the picturesque town of Karuizawa, Shinmei-ji Temple in Nagano Prefecture is a Shinto shr...
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Nagano
BenzaitenLocated in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Tenman-kyo is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten,...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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