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
Komine Shrine
Fukushima
A local Shinto shrine located in Fukushima Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surroundin...
View shrine →
Konsho Shrine
Fukushima
Fertility and prosperity deitiesKonsho Shrine is a fertility shrine known for its distinctive phallic symbolism and rituals related...
View shrine →
Kumano Shrine
Fukushima
Kumano GongenA Kumano shrine in Fukushima Prefecture that enshrines the Kumano deities, part of the widespread ne...
View shrine →
Kumano Shrine
Fukushima
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deities of the Kumano Sanzan, the...
View shrine →
Kumano Shrine
Fukushima
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Fukushima Prefecture, part of the widespread network of Kumano shrines found thro...
View shrine →
Kumano Shrine
Fukushima
Kumano Gongen (manifestation of Buddhist-Shinto syncretism)A Kumano shrine in Fukushima Prefecture, part of the widespread network of Kumano shrines throughout...
View shrine →
Kumano Shrine
Fukushima
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the three principal deities of the Kumano Sanza...
View shrine →
Kunitama Shrine
Fukushima
Kunitama no Okami (spirit of the land)Kunitama Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Kunitama no Okami, the prote...
View shrine →
Matsuo Shrine
Fukushima
Oyamazumi-no-mikotoMatsuo Shrine is dedicated to Oyamazumi-no-mikoto, the Shinto deity of mountains and sea. The shrine...
View shrine →
Mikawa Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari OkamiMikawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the deity o...
View shrine →
Mogi Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari OkamiMogi Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperi...
View shrine →
Murasha Shinmei Shrine
Fukushima
Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinmei shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and princip...
View shrine →
Naraha Hachiman Shrine
Fukushima
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionA Hachiman shrine located in Naraha, Fukushima Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the...
View shrine →
Nihongi Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari OkamiNihongi Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosp...
View shrine →
Nihongi Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperity deity. Like most I...
View shrine →
Nijusanya-son Shrine
Fukushima
Twenty-third Night Moon deityA shrine dedicated to the Twenty-third Night Moon deity, part of the folk religious tradition that v...
View shrine →
Nikaido Shrine
Fukushima
Nikaido Shrine is located on the site of the former Sukagawa Castle in Fukushima Prefecture, marking...
View shrine →
Nitta Shrine
Fukushima
A Shinto shrine located in Fukushima Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of worship a...
View shrine →
Odaka Shrine
Fukushima
Hondawake no Mikoto (Emperor Ojin)A historic Hachiman shrine located in the Odaka district of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture. The sh...
View shrine →
Ogon Hachiman Shrine
Fukushima
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Ogon Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the deified E...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.