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
Miyagi
Located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Wooden Bridge Shrine is a revered Shinto si...
View shrine →
Miyagi
InariLocated in Miyagi Prefecture, Ushikusa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility a...
View shrine →
Miyagi
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, San'ei-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deity Inar...
View shrine →
Miyagi
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Sendai, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and historically...
View shrine →
Miyagi
Kobayashi OkuninushiKobayashi Daijingu Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Kurihama in Miyagi Prefecture, is a re...
View shrine →
Miyagi
HachimanIwade Hachimangu Shrine, located in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's old...
View shrine →
Miyagi
FujinThe Eight Humps Shrine, located in the city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedic...
View shrine →
山形市, 山形県
Urashima Taro no KamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata City, Yuzawa Onsen Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
View shrine →
Miyagi
InariLocated in the prefecture of Miyagi,朝日神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto...
View shrine →
Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the city of Sendai, White Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the g...
View shrine →
Miyagi
nullLocated in the scenic Tohoku region of Japan, 熊野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of M...
View shrine →
Miyagi
MikasaLocated in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is one of Japan's oldest...
View shrine →
Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine (Hachimantai) is a revered Shinto...
View shrine →
仙台市, 宮城県
nullLocated in the heart of Sōma Ward, Daijūjin Temple is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Daijūjin...
View shrine →
Miyagi
Izumo Taisho-gokan-ni-no-Miya-shinIse-daigokannon- Taishokunomiya is a Shinto shrine located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The shrine...
View shrine →
Miyagi
GodaiIse Godai-jinja Shrine in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity G...
View shrine →
Miyagi
ŌgamiLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Ōdate Jinja (also known as Ōdate Shrine or Uga-jin...
View shrine →
Miyagi
Toro no Tsukayomi (God of Fishing)Located in the coastal town of Ishinomaki, Iwate Prefecture, is not correct, but rather, in the coa...
View shrine →
Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Hachiman Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of...
View shrine →
Miyagi
KanonLocated in the city of Sendai, Evening Face Kannon is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Buddhist godd...
View shrine →
Miyagi
Located in the Oshikiri District of Miyagi Prefecture, Hirosaki-ya-ma Shrine is dedicated to the tut...
View shrine →
Miyagi
nullThe Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of the local kami, located in the he...
View shrine →
Miyagi
KannonLocated in the city of Sendai, Hiyadoritein Thousand-Handed Kannon Temple is dedicated to the thousa...
View shrine →
Miyagi
Located on the island of Tsushima, this Shinto shrine is one of Japan's most famous and revered shri...
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.