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
Atsugi Shrine
Kanagawa
A local Shinto shrine located in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, serving as a spiritual center for the...
View shrine →Atsuma Shrine
Hokkaido
HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Atsuma, Hokkaido, Atsuma Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ka...
View shrine →Atsuta Jinja Honden
Nagano
Amaterasu OmikamiAtsuta Jinja Honden, located in Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines. De...
View shrine →Atsuta Kodaijingu
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiAtsuta Kodaijingu is a prominent Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, th...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that shares its name with the famous Atsuta Shrine in Nagoy...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
Local protective deitiesA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that shares its name with the famous Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya. Thi...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
Atsuta no OkamiA local Atsuta Shrine in Gifu Prefecture, likely sharing its name and dedication with the famous Ats...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the same deities as the famous Atsuta Shrine in Nago...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
Gifu
Atsuta no OkamiA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture sharing its name with the famous Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya. Like ma...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
Kochi
Atsuta no OkamiA Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Atsuta no Okami, sharing its name an...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
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Atsuta-no-Okami (manifestation of Amaterasu)One of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, Atsuta Shrine is renowned as the repository of Kusanag...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine
南房総市, 千葉県
Amaterasu OmikamiAtsuta Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto shrines, located in Nihonmatsu, Tochi...
View shrine →Atsuta Shrine (Yamato Takeru)
Wakayama
Yamato Takeru no MikotoA Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, the legendary prince an...
View shrine →Awa-jinja
Chiba
Inari OkamiAwa-jinja Shrine, located in Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inari Okami....
View shrine →Awakubo Shrine
Kanagawa
A local Shinto shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding...
View shrine →Awashima Daimyojin Shrine
Fukushima
Awashima-no-kamiA shrine dedicated to Awashima-no-kami, a deity associated with women's health, fertility, and prote...
View shrine →Awashima Shrine
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Sukunahikona-no-MikotoAwashima Shrine is dedicated to Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto, a deity associated with healing, medicine, a...
View shrine →Awashima Shrine
Chiba
Awashima Shrine, located in the city of Kashima in Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →Awashima Shrine
Kumamoto
Sukunahikona-no-MikotoA shrine dedicated to Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto, known for its association with healing, medicine, and...
View shrine →Awashima Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
InariAwashima Shrine, located in Ōmishima, a small island in Seto Inland Sea, is dedicated to the water g...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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