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
Igami Shrine
小田原市, 神奈川県
InariIgami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Dedicated to the Enshrined...
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Igara Shrine
Nagano
Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Igara Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the legen...
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Igusa Hachimangu
杉並区, 東京都
HachimanIgusa Hachimangu Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the heart of Fuchu Ward, but it appears to be...
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Ihatowake Shrine
Fukushima
Ihatowake no MikotoA Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Ihatowake no Mikoto, a legendary prince and son...
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Iida Hachiman Jinja
Miyagi
HachimanIida Hachiman Jinja, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Hachima...
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Iidaka Shrine
Ibaraki
ŌkuninushiIidaka Shrine, located in the town of Minami Natori, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Iiduna Shrine
津山市, 岡山県
Iiduna-oki no kamiIiduna Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture. It is dedicated to the...
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Iimui utaki Sacred Site
Okinawa
Yonaguni no KamiLocated in the heart of Okinawa, Iimui Utaki is a sacred site revered by the indigenous Ryukyu peopl...
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Iino Akiba Shrine
Gifu
KagutsuchiIino Akiba Shrine is a local Akiba shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to fire prevention and protec...
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Iino Hachimangu Shrine
Fukushima
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionIino Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Fukushima Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of Ha...
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Iinoyagu Shrine
Shizuoka
Inari OkamiIinoyagu Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Ena in Shizuoka Prefecture, is dedicated to Inar...
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Iinuma Suwa Jinja
Nagano
SuwaIinuma Suwa Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the kam...
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Iiyama Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionIiyama Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin...
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Iizuna Shrine
Kanagawa
Iizuna GongenA shrine dedicated to Iizuna Gongen, a syncretic deity combining Buddhist and Shinto elements. Iizun...
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Ikaho Shrine
Gunma
HoteiLocated in the scenic town of Akitaakita, Ikaho Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of f...
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Ikatsu Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionIkatsu Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the divine spiri...
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Ikazuchi jinja
Shizuoka
Karasu-taka no KamiIkazuchi Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kamo in Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated to t...
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Ikazuchi Jinja
Miyagi
Ikazuchi-no-kamiIkazuchi Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Minamisanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The...
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Ike Shrine
Nara
A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture whose name relates to ponds or water bodies, reflecting the histo...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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