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
Goryō Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsA shrine dedicated to goryō, the vengeful spirits of those who died in political turmoil or injustic...
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Goryō Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and deified noblesGoryō Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryō, the spirits of nobles who died in political di...
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Goryo Shrine
Nara
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsA Goryo shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to appeasing vengeful spirits (goryo) and deified souls...
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Goryo Shrine
Wakayama
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsGoryo Shrine is dedicated to the worship of goryo, spirits of noble or powerful individuals who died...
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Goryo Shrine
Oita
Deified spirits of the wrongfully deadGoryo Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryo, the spirits of individuals who died unjustly o...
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Goryō Shrine
Nara
Vengeful spirits and political martyrsGoryō Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryō, the spirits of individuals who died under trag...
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Goryō Shrine
Chiba
nullLocated in the town of Fukuda, Chiba Prefecture, Goryō Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the de...
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Goryō Shrine
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Vengeful spirits of the wrongfully deadGoryō shrines are dedicated to pacifying the vengeful spirits (goryō) of individuals who died under...
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Gosha Daimyojin Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to five major kami, as indicated by its name 'Gosha' me...
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Gosha Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiGosha Inari Shrine is an Inari shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the Shinto deity o...
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Gosha Inari Shrine
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Inari OkamiGosha Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice, sake, agriculture,...
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Gosha Shrine
Kagoshima
Gosha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture whose name literally means 'Five Company Shr...
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Gosha Shrine
Gifu
Gosha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'Five Company Shrine,'...
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Gosha Shrine
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Five protective deitiesGosha Shrine, meaning 'Five Companies Shrine,' is a Shinto shrine that enshrines five distinct kami...
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Gosha Shrine
Kochi
Gosha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture that enshrines five deities, as indicate...
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Goshiki Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, whose name translates to 'Five Colors Shrine,' suggestin...
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Goshikihama Shrine
Ehime
Goshikihama Shrine, located in Ehime Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sea...
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Gosho Shrine
Gifu
Gosho Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'Five Places Shrine,'...
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Goshobara Daijingu
Yamaguchi
Amaterasu OmikamiGoshobara Daijingu is a Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the su...
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Gosya Shrine
Hyogo
nullLocated in Hyogo Prefecture, Gosya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of various kam...
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gosyadaizinjya
兵庫県加古川市平岡町新在家2293, Hyogo
Sugiyama no OkamiGosyadaizinjya Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, and is dedicated to the...
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Goten Jinjya Shrine
Kanagawa
nullLocated in the city of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Goten Jinjya Shrine is a revered Shinto shrine...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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