Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

青生神社

Miyagi

Kaname Ōno-machi

Located in the city of Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, Akazuya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...

View shrine →

熊野神社

Miyagi

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Nestled in the heart of the Zao Mountains, 熊野神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the god...

View shrine →

鹿嶋神社

Miyagi

Inari Okami

Located in the scenic town of Ishinomaki,鹿嶋神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Kamishima...

View shrine →

白鳥神社

Miyagi

Tama-yorihime

Located in the heart of Sendai, the former capital city of Japan's northern region, Shitenzaka Park...

View shrine →

八幡神社

Miyagi

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is one of Japan's most famo...

View shrine →

日吉神社

Miyagi

Susanoo

Located in the heart of Sendai, Date Jinsha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess...

View shrine →

道祖神社

Miyagi

The Dōzoshinsha Shrine in Miyagi Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same nam...

View shrine →

甲子大黒天神社

Miyagi

Ame no Kokuryū

Located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Ame no Kokuryu Shinsho is a Shinto shrine dedicate...

View shrine →

古峯神社

Miyagi

Ōgata no Okami

Located in the scenic Shimokita Peninsula of Miyagi Prefecture, Ōgata-koji Shrine is dedicated to th...

View shrine →

とんとん神社

Miyagi

Tohoto Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedica...

View shrine →

岡崎稲荷明神社

Miyagi

Inari

Located in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, the Okazaki Inari Meigetsu Taisha is a historic...

View shrine →

大荒山神社

Miyagi

Inari Ōno-miya

The Dairi-yama Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Ōno-miya, is situated at the foot of Daib...

View shrine →

天神社

Miyagi

Susa-no-o-no-kami

Located in the heart of Sendai, the town that gave its name to Japan's fourth-largest city, Tenjin S...

View shrine →

古峯神社

Miyagi

Inari Okami

Located in the scenic Rikuzen Mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, Ōmika Shrine is dedicated to the Shint...

View shrine →

ニ渡神社

Miyagi

Nizudashi Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedica...

View shrine →

船魂神社

Miyagi

Hikarimaru

Hikarimaru-ha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, that enshrines the...

View shrine →

山祇神社

Miyagi

Inari

Located in the city of Ishinomaki, Shimoji Inari Shrine is dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto god...

View shrine →

山神社

Miyagi

Enma

Located in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Mount Koma Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto d...

View shrine →

住吉敬神会

Miyagi

Ressei

Located in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Ressei Gokoku Shrine is dedicated to the god o...

View shrine →

天王宮 八雲神社

Miyagi

Yamatsumi

Located in the town of Kesennuma, in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan,天王宮八雲神社 (Tenno-ou shrine)...

View shrine →

作楽神社

Miyagi

Located in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Sakakibara Shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi n...

View shrine →

作楽神社

Miyagi

Kaito Sanjuusangenzan

Located in the city of Sendai, the Akakawa no Michi Shrine is dedicated to Kaito Sanjuusangenzan, a...

View shrine →

雷神社

Miyagi

Raijin

The Raigū-ji Shrine in Miyagi Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the storm god Raijin, a pri...

View shrine →

春日神社

Miyagi

Yamatano Ō no Mikoto

Spring Day Shrine, located in the city of Sendai, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of spring, cherry...

View shrine →

Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

Japanese Culture Network

Japanese Wood Joints

Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen

ShrinePuzzle

Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games

Kohibou

Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides

E2Japan

Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations

The 725 Club

SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker

Spaceship Adventures

Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development

Uptown Zero

Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life

Book Fairy Tales

AI-powered educational stories for kids

CSSKitsune

Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts

Shinto Wisdom app icon
Free App · No Ads · Offline

Shinto Wisdom Daily Practice

by 10k Game Studio

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.

結び Musubi 清め Harae 自然 Shizen 間 Ma 誠 Makoto + 45 more
Get it on Google Play