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
Ikegami Hiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui no KamiA Hiyoshi shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, the mountain deity. Hiyoshi s...
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Ikejiri-inari Shrine
世田谷区, 東京都
InariIkejiri Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Tokyo's Setagaya ward, dedicated to...
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Ikime Shrine
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Deity of vision and eye healthA Shinto shrine dedicated to eye health and vision improvement, popular among students preparing for...
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Ikime Shrine
Kumamoto
Ikime no MikotoIkime Shrine is dedicated to Ikime no Mikoto, a deity associated with eye health and vision. The shr...
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Ikisu Shrine
Fukushima
Kunado-no-kami and Sumiyoshi deitiesOne of the three Kashima shrines along with Kashima Shrine and Katori Shrine, collectively known as...
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Ikisu-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
nullIkisu-jinja Shrine, located in the scenic town of Ibaraki Prefecture, is a tranquil Shinto shrine de...
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Ibaraki
MarikoIkō Hikawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Ichihara, Ibaraki Prefecture. The shrine...
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Ikobe Shrine
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Hondawake no Mikoto (Emperor Ojin)Ikobe Shrine is a local Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the deified Emperor Ojin known as Honda...
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Ikona Hime-no-Mikoto Shrine
Shizuoka
Hime-no-MikotoIkona Hime-no-Mikoto Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture. De...
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Osaka
nullIkukunitama Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Osaka, Japan. Dedicated to the god of good luck and...
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Ikura Shrine
Miyazaki
A Shinto shrine located in Miyazaki Prefecture, serving as an important local spiritual center for t...
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Ikushima-tarushima Jinja
Nagano
Ikushima-tarushima Jinja, located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Ikuta Shrine
Osaka
Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in the heart of Osaka, Ikuta Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the Sun Goddess Am...
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Ikutama Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiIkutama Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperity...
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Ikuwa Nagamatsu Shrine
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A local Shinto shrine located in the Ikuwa area, serving the surrounding community with traditional...
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Ima Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hondawake no Mikoto)A Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated with...
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Imadera Daijingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiImadera Daijingu is a shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture that follows the daijingu tradition, indicating...
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Imado Shrine
Ibaraki
InariImado Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Tsukuda, Ibaraki Prefecture. The shrine is de...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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