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
Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Mountain Shrine is one of Japan's oldest a...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 田代神明社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture,八幡神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the god Su...
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Akita
KōkaiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Void Treasure God Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Akita
Located in the mountainous region of Akita Prefecture, Taipei-yama Shrine is a sacred site dedicated...
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Akita
Dayutsu-jinLocated in the heart of Akita City, Dayutsu-jinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of the su...
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Akita
Obafugetsu TenjinLocated in the heart of Akita, Obafugetsu-tenjin-gu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Obafugetsu Tenji...
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Akita
GodaiGodai Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Godai, the deity of grain...
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Akita
Located in the scenic Akita Prefecture, 鹿島神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Akita
Fukutomi no OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Fukoku Jinsha Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of go...
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Akita
InariLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Inda no Mika no Tsukaya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inar...
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Akita
Hachiman Okami白山神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the deity Hachiman Okami, who...
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Akita
Inari ŌkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, the Jōichibu-Inari Shrine is a sacred Shinto site dedicated to Inari...
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Akita
Located in the town of Dau, Aomori Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, but this sh...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita, Godai Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Godai...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita, Kogen Shinmeisha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship...
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Akita
Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi no OkamiThe Daytsu-jinja Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and...
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Akita
nullThe Godaiju Temple, also known as the Arahama Shrine or Shimo-Yatsudani Shrine, is a Shinto shrine l...
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Akita
Karasu-tsurugi-Ō no kamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Sanbōdaikararagūjinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Karasu...
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Akita
SusanooLocated in the heart of Akita, Eight Hills Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, with a hi...
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Akita
BenzaitenLocated in Akita Prefecture, 弁財天大神 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of mu...
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Akita
nullNagatsuma Kamikaze Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of wind and storms, Nagatsuma Kami...
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Akita
nullLocated in Akita Prefecture, 薬師神社 (Usugayatsu Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
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Akita
null薬師堂 (Kanpō-dera) is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of healin...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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