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
Ashigami Jinja
Nagano
Hachiman ŌkamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Ashigami Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ens...
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Ashigami-sama
Nagano
Minakuchi no KamiLocated in the city of Chiba, Japan, the Shrine of Ashigami-sama is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Ashigami-san Shrine
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Deity of feet and legsA folk shrine dedicated to the protection and healing of feet and legs, reflecting the practical spi...
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Ashigara Shrine
南足柄市, 神奈川県
Okuninushi no KamiLocated in the city of Minamiashigarashima, Gunma Prefecture is not the location. Gunma was not the...
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Ashihara Jinja
Nagano
Inari ŌhimeLocated in the prefecture of Nagano, Ashihara Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess of r...
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Ashihara Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
InariAshihara Jinja Shrine, located in the city of Katsuragi, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami...
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Ashio Shrine
Fukushima
Kanayamahiko-no-MikotoAshio Shrine is dedicated to deities associated with mining and metalworking, reflecting the histori...
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Aso Hachiman Shrine
Yamaguchi
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)A Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deiti...
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Aso Shrine
Gifu
Aso no OkamiA Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, part of the network of shrines dedicated to the Aso deit...
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Aso Shrine (Wakamiya-san)
Kumamoto
Takeiwatatsu no MikotoAso Shrine, affectionately known as Wakamiya-san, is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Kyu...
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Asoda Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding...
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Asozu Kuzuryu Shrine
Wakayama
Nine-headed dragon deityAsozu Kuzuryu Shrine is dedicated to the worship of a nine-headed dragon deity, representing the pow...
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Assembly Hall
Yamagata
Izanagi-no-kami, Tsukuyomi-no-kamiThe Assembly Hall in Yamagata Prefecture is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of...
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Asuka Shrine
Nara
Local protective deitiesAsuka Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in the historic Asuka region of Nara Prefecture, an ar...
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Asuka Shrine
Nara
Kumano deitiesAsuka Shrine is one of the three main Kumano shrines located in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture. As part...
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Asuke Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine located in the historic Asuke district, known for its traditional architecture and...
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Ata Shrine
Miyazaki
Hikohohodemi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, also known as Yamasachih...
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Atago Inari Jinja
Nagano
Inari OkamiAtago Inari Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese Alps, dedicated to the god of rice and...
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Atago Jinja
Miyagi
Atago-sanAtago Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedicated to the...
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Atago Jinja
Miyagi
Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the heart of Sendai, Atago Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the worship of Am...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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