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
Goryo Shrine
Nara
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsA Goryo shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to appeasing vengeful spirits (goryo) and deified souls...
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Goryō Shrine
Nara
Vengeful spirits and political martyrsGoryō Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryō, the spirits of individuals who died under trag...
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Guardian Shrine
Nara
A local guardian shrine (chinjusha) that serves as a protective spiritual center for its community....
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Hachiman Daijinja and Umemoto Jinja
Nara
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman) and local kamiA dual shrine complex in Nara combining Hachiman Daijinja, dedicated to the war god Hachiman, with U...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionA Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the Shinto deity of war, culture, and divine prote...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman (god of war and divine protector of Japan)A Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated with the worship of Hachiman,...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionA Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the Shinto deity of war,...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionA Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the Shinto god of war, cu...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Emperor Ojin (Hondawake no Mikoto)A Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin, who is venerated as the Shinto deity...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionA Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the Shinto deity of war,...
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Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionA Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the Shinto god of war, cu...
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Hachioji Shinomuro Shrine
Nara
Emperor Ojin and associated deitiesA Hachiman shrine located in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin and related deities. The name...
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Hachioji Shrine
Nara
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Hachioji Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and hi...
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Hachioji Shrine and Mountain Deity Remote Worship Site
Nara
Hachiman and mountain deitiesA shrine complex consisting of Hachioji Shrine dedicated to Hachiman worship and an associated remot...
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Hakusan Shrine
Nara
Shirayama-hime no MikotoHakusan Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the kami of Mount Hakusan. As part...
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Hakusan Shrine
Nara
Shirayamahime-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Shirayamahime-no-Mikoto. As part...
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Hakusan Shrine
Nara
Shirayama-hime-no-kamiHakusan Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the kami of Mount Hakusan. As part...
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Hatsumiya Shrine
Nara
A local Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to prayers for children's health and protection....
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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