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
Ao-Sukunabikona Jinja Shrine
能美市, 石川県
Sukuna no Ike, Biko-no-MikotoLocated in the town of Hakusan, Iwana District, Kaga Region, Ishikawa Prefecture, Ao-Sukunabikona Ji...
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Aofusuma Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, known by its distinctive name meaning 'blue bedding' or...
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Aohani Shrine
Shizuoka
AohiAohani Shrine, located in the town of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Aomori Prefecture Gokoku Shrine
Aomori
Tenno, MikotoAomori Prefecture Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Aomori, Japan. Dedicated to the kami o...
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Aooka Awashima Shrine
Hiroshima
Sukunahikona-no-mikotoAooka Awashima Shrine is dedicated to Sukunahikona-no-mikoto, a deity associated with medicine, heal...
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Aoshi Shrine
長岡市, 新潟県
AmaterasuAoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Midori, Nagano prefecture, but was originally...
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Aoso Jinja
Miyagi
Aoso Jinja, located in the city of Ichinoseki in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Aoto Shrine
Ibaraki
Ō no YasumaroAoto Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Ō no Yasumaro,...
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Aoume Tenmangu Shrine
Tochigi
TenmanAoume Tenmangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tochigi, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a p...
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Ara Shrine
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Kojin (fierce protective deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Kojin, fierce protective deities in Japanese folk religion. Kojin shrin...
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Aragami Shrine
Hiroshima
Aragami (fierce protective deities)A shrine dedicated to Aragami, fierce protective deities in Japanese folk religion who are believed...
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Aragami Shrine
Gifu
Aragami (fierce protective deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Aragami, fierce protective deities in Japanese folk religion. Aragami a...
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ARAGAMI Shrine
松前町, 北海道
AragamiLocated in the scenic northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido, the ARAGAMI Shrine is a Shinto sacre...
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ARAGAMI Shrine
松前町, 北海道
AragamiLocated in the northernmost part of Japan, ARAGAMI Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary nestled within the s...
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Arahashi Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to local kami and serving the spiritual needs...
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Araho Shrine
Fukuoka
Mori no KamiAraho Shrine, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest...
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Arai Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, and...
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Araisouomine Shrine
南房総市, 千葉県
nullAraisouomine Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Minami-futsu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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