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
Ishikawa
TenjinUtatsu Tenmangu Shrine in Ishikawa Prefecture is dedicated to the deity of learning and literature,...
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Kanagawa
TenjinLocated in the heart of Odawara, Okamura-Tenmangu Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto de...
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Ibaraki
Mikazuki YoritonabeLocated in the scenic town of Ryugasaki, Sendabori Tenjin Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated...
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Egawa Tenjin Shrine
Kanagawa
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and p...
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Eura Tenmangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sugawara no MichizaneEura Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the dei...
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Gojoyama Tenmangu Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenmangu shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and pol...
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Gokaku Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneA shrine dedicated to academic success and passing examinations, typically enshrining Sugawara no Mi...
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Hatanaka Tenmansha Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA local Tenmansha shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar...
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Hattori Tenmangu Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneHattori Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and poet...
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Hayataka Tenmangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneHayataka Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the...
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Himuro Tenjin Shrine
Kochi
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and poli...
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Hirata Tenmangu Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneHirata Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deifie...
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Hiso Tenjin Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Sugawara no Michizane, the renowned Heian period...
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Hofu Tenmangu
Yamaguchi
Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin)One of Japan's three major Tenmangu shrines, Hofu Tenmangu is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, th...
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Hokai Tenjin Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician who became th...
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Horiuchi Tenno Shrine
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Emperor spirits and scholarly deitiesHoriuchi Tenno Shrine is a local Shinto shrine dedicated to imperial spirits and scholarly pursuits....
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Hosone Tenmangu Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneHosone Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deifie...
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Imai Tenmangu Shrine
Kanagawa
Sugawara no MichizaneImai Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deif...
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Inou Tenjin Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician who became th...
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Kaizando Tenjin Sugawara Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician who became th...
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Kajikaeshi Tenmangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenmangu shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified spirit of...
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Kakikara Tenmangu Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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