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
Chikiri Shrine
高松市, 香川県
Chikiri-no-KamiChikiri Shrine, located in high Matayama Hill of Kagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine famous for it...
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Chikubushima Shrine
Tochigi
ŌkuninushiChikubushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on an island in the Asakawa River of Tochigi Prefectu...
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Chikudaira Sengen Jinja
Nagano
Sengen TenjinChikudaira Sengen Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Chikudaira, Nagano Prefecture. The...
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Chikudaira Suwa Jinja
Nagano
SuwagenomeLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Chikudaira Suwa Jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Chikura Shrine
南房総市, 千葉県
Located in the southern part of Ichihara, Chikura Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami (s...
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Chimori Shrine
Kumamoto
Local protective deityChimori Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture that serves as a guardian shrine for...
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Chinju Shrine
Kochi
A local guardian shrine in Kochi Prefecture that serves as a protective spiritual center for the sur...
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Chinjusha shrine
Niigata
Located in the prefecture of Niigata, Chinjusha Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the protectio...
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Chinjusha shrine
Niigata
HachimanLocated in the heart of Japan's rural landscape, Chinjusha Shrine is a tranquil oasis that honors th...
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Chiriku Hachiman Shrine
Fukuoka
HachimanChiriku Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukuoka, Japan, dedicated to the god of war an...
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Chiryu Shrine
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Emperor Ojin and associated deitiesChiryu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Chiryu City, Aichi Prefecture, known for its as...
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Chiryu Shrine
Gifu
Yamato Takeru no MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, known for its connection to travel safety and...
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Chishin Tower
Kanagawa
Earth deities and agricultural spiritsA traditional earth deity monument dedicated to agricultural protection and local land spirits, repr...
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Chisui Shrine
Gifu
Water management and flood prevention deitiesChisui Shrine is dedicated to deities associated with water management and flood control. The name '...
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Chisui Shrine
Gifu
Water control deitiesChisui Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to water control and flood prevention....
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Chitose Shrine
Toyama
Inari OkamiChitose Shrine, located in the city of Toyama, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami, patron...
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Chitoseinari
Miyagi
InariChitoseinari Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity Inari Okami, revered as...
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Chiyoda Shrine
Osaka
Oda no Izumo TamazōLocated in the heart of Osaka, Chiyoda Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of l...
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Chizuka Shrine
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A small local shrine whose name literally means 'blood mound,' suggesting possible connections to an...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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