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
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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Hikino Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of worship an...
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Hikosan Shrine
Kumamoto
Mountain kamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to mountain worship and spiritual practice, part of the broader Hikosan re...
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Himeura Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, dedicated to local kami and serving the spiritual ne...
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Hishima Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religio...
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Hiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui-no-kamiHiyoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, part of the Hiyo...
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Hiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Hiyoshi shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami. Hiyoshi sh...
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Horai Horai Shrine
Kumamoto
Deities of fortune and prosperityA relatively modern shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture known for its association with good fortune and fi...
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Hyotanbata Inari Daimyojin
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, pros...
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Ikegami Hiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui no KamiA Hiyoshi shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, the mountain deity. Hiyoshi s...
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Ikime Shrine
Kumamoto
Ikime no MikotoIkime Shrine is dedicated to Ikime no Mikoto, a deity associated with eye health and vision. The shr...
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Imadera Daijingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiImadera Daijingu is a shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture that follows the daijingu tradition, indicating...
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Inari Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari Okami (deity of rice, sake, and prosperity)A local Inari shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, sake...
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Inari Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the kami of rice, sake, agriculture, and prosperity. Inari shrin...
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Inari Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the kami of rice, sake, agriculture, and pr...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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