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

愛染明王堂

Miyagi

Amaterasu

The Ai Dengo Myoong Wong-do, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worsh...

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為朝神社

Miyagi

Tsukuyomi

Asahiyama Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai City, is dedicated to Tsukuyomi, the moon god and b...

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川内明神

Miyagi

Inari

Located in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, 川内明神 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami,...

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高砂神社

Miyagi

Tsukuyomi

Highsand Shrine, located in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan, is dedicated to the Shinto kami, Tsukuyo...

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亀井八幡神社

Miyagi

Izumo, Ryujin

Located in the coastal city of Sendai, Hie Izumo Taisha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god...

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伊達明神

Miyagi

Iwadatsumi Okami

Iwadatsumi Shrine in Miyagi Prefecture is dedicated to Iwadatsumi Okami, a kami associated with the...

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神道大教 あかつき仙台分教会

Miyagi

Akatsuki no Okami

Located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, the Akatsuki Sengen Taisha is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shr...

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熊野神社

Miyagi

Ōya

Located in the heart of Sendai, Kanda Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Ōya, the deity of the r...

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須賀神社

Miyagi

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Suuga Shrine, located in the northern Japanese prefecture of Miyagi, is a Shinto site dedicated to t...

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古峯神社

Miyagi

Taka-no-Mori

Ancient Izumo Shrine, located on the coast of Japan's northern island, is said to be built on a sacr...

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古峯神社

Miyagi

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Ko no Iwai no Miya, or ancient 'Waterfall Gate Shrine' is a Shinto shrine located in the mountainous...

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雷神社

Miyagi

Ryōin

Reigensha Shrine, located in the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicat...

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琴平神社

Miyagi

Kaito

Located in the city of Sendai, the Katsura Plain Shrine (Kyonōgami Jinja) is one of Japan's oldest s...

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熊野神社

Miyagi

Okuninushi

Matsushima-ji, located in the heart of Sendai city, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god...

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瀧上神社

Miyagi

Tsukasa Hachiman

Tsukasa Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedica...

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熊野神社

Miyagi

Amaterasu Ōmikami

Kōnan Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai City, is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto...

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御嶽神社

Miyagi

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The Ōsaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Ōsaka, located in Miyagi Prefecture. Th...

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熊野神社

Miyagi

Kumano-san Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Aomori Prefecture, but there's also a famous Kumano...

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八幡神社

Miyagi

Fujin

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

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業除神社

Miyagi

Tsukuyomi

業除神社, located in the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...

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八雲神社

Miyagi

Located in the scenic city of Ishinomaki, Eight Clouds Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to...

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熊野神社

Miyagi

Kumano Okami

Kumano-gawa, a sacred river in northern Japan, is said to have played a role in the founding of Kuma...

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早馬神社奥社

Miyagi

Ryujin

早馬神社奥社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Founded in 1629,...

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金毘羅神社

Miyagi

Goldraushige Kami

Goldraushige Kami (Gilt-Hair Kami) is enshrined at the Goldfield Shrine in Miyagi Prefecture, a sacr...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

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

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