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
Akaboshi Shrine
Gifu
Stellar deities and celestial kamiA Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to stellar deities and astronomical worship. T...
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Akadainari Shrine
Tokyo
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Akadainari Shrine is a tranquil oasis nestled within the scenic Katsu...
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Akadake Shrine
Nagano
Shirodani-okiLocated in the Japanese Alps, Akadake Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shugendo deity, Shiro...
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AKAGAMI shrine
松前町, 北海道
AkagamiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido, AKAGAMI Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
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AKAGAMI Shrine
松前町, 北海道
Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the city of Matsusaka Town, Hokkaido, Akagami Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akagi Shrine
Ibaraki
Hachiman-no-OkamiLocated in the scenic town of Daigo, Akagi Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of Hac...
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Akahiko Shrine
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Akahiko no MikotoAkahiko Shrine is a local Shinto shrine dedicated to Akahiko no Mikoto, whose name literally means '...
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Akandake shrine
Hokkaido
nullAkandake shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the northeastern Japanese island of Hokkaido, specific...
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Akasaka Inari Jinja
Nagano
InariLocated in the heart of Nagano, Akasaka Inari Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of I...
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Akasaki Shrine
Yamaguchi
A Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religi...
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Saitama
Suwa no OkamiAkatsuka Suwa Shrine, located in the city of Sakado, Saitama Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest sh...
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Aki Shrine
Nara
Emperor OjinAki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the mountainous Uda region of Nara Prefecture. Kno...
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Akiba Daigongen Shrine
Gifu
Akiba Daigongen (fire deity)A shrine dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a powerful fire deity in Japanese folk religion. Akiba worshi...
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Akiba Daigongen Shrine
Wakayama
Akiba Daigongen (fire deity)A shrine dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a syncretic fire deity combining Buddhist and Shinto elements...
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Akiba Daijin Shrine
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Akiba Daijin (fire prevention deity)A shrine dedicated to Akiba Daijin, a deity associated with fire prevention and protection from fire...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is traditionally associated with protection from fires...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-mikoto (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is particularly revered for protection against fires a...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-MikotoAkiba shrines are dedicated to fire prevention and protection from fires. These shrines enshrine Kag...
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Akiba Shrine
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Akiba-no-Kami (fire prevention deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire prevention and protection from conflagrations. The name 'Akiba' de...
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Akiba Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-Mikoto (fire deity)Akiba Shrine is dedicated to fire deities and is traditionally visited for protection against fires...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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