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
Hie Jinja Nihonbashi Sessha
Chiba
Hie no OkamiHie Shrine, located in the heart of Tokyo's Nihonbashi district, is one of Japan's oldest and most r...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
東京都
Fujin and InazumaHie Shrine, located in the heart of Tokyo, is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shinto shrines...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Ishikawa
TsukuyomiLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines and a popular...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
AmaterasuHie Shrine, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines. Dedicated...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
Wind GodHie Shrine, located in Fujinuma, Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shi...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
Minamoto no YoshitsuneLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's most famous shrines and a symbol of the...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
InariLocated in the heart of Edo-era Tokyo, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's most revered and historic Shinto...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Saga
HihimeLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Hie Shrine is one of the oldest and most important Shinto shrines in...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, a mountain deity associated with protec...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the mountain deity. As part of the Sann...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the mountain deity. As part of the Sann...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui no KamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, a mountain deity associated with protec...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the mountain deity. As part of the Sann...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, a mountain deity associated with protection, sake brewi...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, a mountain deity associated with protec...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Miyazaki
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Hie shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami. Hie shrines ar...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
館山市, 千葉県
HachimanHie Shrine, located in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site that honors the god...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
Located in the heart of Chiba Prefecture, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dating...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
HieHie Shrine, located in the city of Kinzan, Chiba Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous and histo...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiHie Shrine, located in the Chiba prefecture of Japan, is one of the oldest and most revered Shinto s...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, a mountain deit...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Hie shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the mountain deity. Hie...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Tokushima
Inari ŌkamiLocated in the heart of Tokyo's Azabu-Juban district, Hie Shrine is a prominent Shinto shrine dedica...
View shrine →
Hie Shrine
Ibaraki
Tenjin (God of Learning) and Hie no KamiLocated in Ibaraki Prefecture, Hie Shrine is one of the most famous and ancient shrines in Japan, de...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.