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
Kodakara Shrine
Kagoshima
A local Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture, reflecting the regional spiritual traditions of south...
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Kogarasu Shrine
Kagoshima
A local Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture whose name translates to 'Little Crow Shrine,' suggest...
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Kogarasu Shrine
Kagoshima
Emperor OjinKogarasu Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the deified...
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Kogarasu Shrine
Kagoshima
Local protective deitiesA local Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to protective kami. The name Kogarasu means...
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Komahime Ryujin Daijin Shrine
Kagoshima
Komahime Ryujin - Dragon deity associated with water and maritime protectionA shrine dedicated to Komahime Ryujin, a dragon deity revered for protection of waters and maritime...
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Konpira Shrine
Kagoshima
Ōmononushi-no-KamiA Konpira shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to maritime safety and prosperity. Like other Kon...
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Kotoshironushi Shrine
Kagoshima
Kotoshironushi-no-KamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Kotoshironushi-no-Kami, a deity associated with oracles, fishing, and c...
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Kudama Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religi...
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Kumano Shrine
Kagoshima
Kumano Gongen (three deities of Kumano)A Kumano shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines throughout...
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Kumano Shrine
Kagoshima
Kumano Gongen deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the Kumano Gongen deities. Part of the Kumano f...
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Kumano Shrine
Kagoshima
Kumano Gongen (manifestation of Buddhist-Shinto syncretic deities)A Kumano shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture, part of the widespread network of shrines affiliated with t...
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Kumano Shrine
Kagoshima
Kumano Gongen (Kumano deities)A Kumano shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines throughout...
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Kumasaki Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religi...
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Kusukawa Tenmangu Shrine
Kagoshima
Sugawara no MichizaneKusukawa Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the...
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Masuyama Hachiman Shrine
Kagoshima
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionMasuyama Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the deifi...
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Miyazaki Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of local kami and serving...
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Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, part of the network of shrines serving local commun...
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Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to Nanpo, a legendary figure associated w...
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Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, known for its connection to the southern regions of...
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Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
Emperor SutokuNanpo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Sutoku, one of Japan's...
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Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, representing the southern region through its name w...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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