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
Hayataka Tenmangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneHayataka Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the...
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Hayatawake-no-Mikoto Shrine
Shizuoka
Located in the city of Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Hayatawake-no-Mikoto Shrine is a Shinto shrine...
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Hayato Shrine
Gifu
Local protective deities and ancestral spiritsHayato Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that serves the spiritual needs of the sur...
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Hazawa Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine located in the Hazawa area of Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the Shinto deit...
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Hazu Shrine
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Ukanomitama-no-kamiHazu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to agricultural prosperity and good fortune. The shrine ser...
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Hebikubo Shrine
Chiba
HebikuboHebikubo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Soka, Chiba Prefecture. The shrine is dedi...
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Heda Shrine
Gifu
Local protective deityHeda Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture that serves as a spiritual center fo...
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Heian Shrine
京都市, 京都府
Jinmu and YidunHeian Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Jinmu and Empress Yidun,...
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Heihachi Inari Shrine
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Inari OkamiHeihachi Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice, sake, agricultu...
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Heiwa-kinendo Shrine
Okinawa
nullHeiwa-kinendo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. Dedicated...
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Heiwaden
Nagano
GasshōdaijōLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Heiwaden Shrine is a serene oasis dedicated to the Shinto...
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Herasaka-jinja Shrine
Shiga
Located in the town of Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, Herasaka-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine...
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Hi no Saki shrine
Ibaraki
Located in the town of Tomobe, Ibaraki Prefecture, Hi no Saki Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Hiai Shrine
Fukuoka
Hiai Shrine, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same nam...
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Hibiya-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Hibiya-jinja Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu Ōmikami, the Shinto sun...
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Hibomiyama Hachimangu Shrine
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Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionHibomiyama Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deit...
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Hidaki Jinja
Tokushima
Kurikawa no KamiHidaki Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Tokushima Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of Mount Iya...
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Hie Jinja
Nagano
AmaterasuHie Shrine, located in the heart of Tokyo's Shibuya ward, is one of Japan's most famous and historic...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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