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
Arita Shrine
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Emperor Ojin and related deitiesArita Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the deified Emperor Ojin who serves as a patr...
View shrine →Aruka Shrine
Kanagawa
ArukamiLocated in the city of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Aruka Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity...
View shrine →Aruka Shrine
Kanagawa
Aruka no OkamiAruka Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the local prot...
View shrine →Aruka Tenjin Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the Kanagawa prefecture, Aruka Tenjin Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Susanoo-no-Mi...
View shrine →Asagaya Shinmeiguu
杉並区, 東京都
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Sagamihara, Asagaya Shinmeiguu Shrine is a tranquil oasis in the midst of bu...
View shrine →Asagi
今帰仁村, 沖縄県
Asa-Ga-NiThe Asagi Shrine, located in the small village of Imariyama-son, is a Shinto site that honors the ka...
View shrine →Asahi Benzaiten
Chiba
BenzaitenAsahi Benzaiten, located in the heart of Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the godde...
View shrine →Asahi Hikawa-jinja Shrine
川口市, 埼玉県
InariAsahi Hikawa-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kawaguchi-ku, Saitama, but also serves the n...
View shrine →Asahi Inari Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiAsahi Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Ogishi, Chiba Prefecture, and is one of...
View shrine →Asahi Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Ukanomitama-no-OkamiA local Inari shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperity deity. Like other...
View shrine →Asahi Jinja
Miyagi
AmaterasuAsahi Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. The shri...
View shrine →Asahi Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to solar worship, as indicated by its name meaning 'mor...
View shrine →Asahikawa shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, Asahikawa Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Asahino Yashiro
Tokushima
nullLocated in the scenic town of Nankoku, Tokushima Prefecture, Asahino Yashiro is a Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Asai Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving as a local place of worship and community gather...
View shrine →Asakura Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the Asakura clan and their ancestral spirit...
View shrine →Ibaraki
Enma DaijinLocated in Ibaraki Prefecture, the Asakusa Fuji Sengen Jinja shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to...
View shrine →Asakusa Shrine
Ibaraki
Sugawara no MichizaneAsakusa Shrine, located in the city of Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous and histori...
View shrine →ASAMA Shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the picturesque town of Matsumae in northern Hokkaido, Asama Shrine is a sacred site dedi...
View shrine →ASAMA Shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the northern island of Hokkaido, Asama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity A...
View shrine →Asama Shrine
Nagano
EnmaAsama Shrine, located in the Japanese Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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