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
Boh Jinja Shrine (Unknown named Shrine)
Niigata
nullBoh Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Niigata Prefecture, known for its unique architecture...
View shrine →Bokushimiwa Shrine
Fukuoka
InariBokushimiwa Shrine, located in the heart of Fukuoka Prefecture, is a serene Shinto sanctuary that ho...
View shrine →Buden
Shiga
Susano'oLocated in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Buden Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
View shrine →Ibaraki
Bujitomi Inari Jinja, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of...
View shrine →Byakko Inari Shrine
Saitama
Inari OkamiByakko Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Saitama Prefecture, dedicated to the primary deity...
View shrine →Chanoki Inari
Chiba
Inari OkamiChanoki Inari, located in the Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice and...
View shrine →Chanoki Jinja
Chiba
RyujinChanoki Jinja Shrine, located in the town of Sanchi in Chiba Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto...
View shrine →Chichibu Shrine
秩父市, 埼玉県
OkamiChichibu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agriculture, rice, and fertility...
View shrine →Ishikawa
HachimanThe Chicken Shrine, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a unique Shinto site that honors the local ka...
View shrine →Chigo Shrine
Kyoto
Chigusa-OkamiLocated in the historic Nishijin district of Kyoto, Chigo Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Chihaya Shrine
Osaka
KotoshichiChihaya Shrine, located in Osaka Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Kotoshichi, a revered...
View shrine →Chijin Daijin Shrine
Yamaguchi
Earth kami and local protective deitiesA local shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to earth deities and land spirits. The name Chijin...
View shrine →Chijin Tower
Kanagawa
Earth deitiesA traditional earth deity monument that serves as a focal point for agricultural and land-related pr...
View shrine →Chijin Tower
Kanagawa
Earth deities and local land spiritsA traditional earth deity tower (chijintou) representing folk Shinto practices focused on agricultur...
View shrine →Chikanawa Daijingu
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiChikanawa Daijingu is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture that serves as a regional center for the w...
View shrine →Chikatsu shinto shrine
つくば市, 茨城県
Chikatsu Shinto Shrine, located in Tsukuba City, Côtebati Prefecture, is a revered site dedicated to...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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