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
Itomimurashima Shrine
Ishikawa
Itomimura no OkamiItomimurashima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Katsuyama, Ishikawa Prefecture. The...
View shrine →Itsukishima-Jinja shrine
小松市, 石川県
Itsumi no OkamiLocated in Ishikawa Prefecture, Itsukishima-Jinja shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
伊豆市, 静岡県
Itsu-NekoiItsukushima Shrine, located on the island of Miyajima in Mie Prefecture, is famous for its stunning...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoItsukushima Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture is dedicated to the three sister goddesses of the sea and...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, one of the three god...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoA local Itsukushima Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-M...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, one of the three god...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto and sister goddessesItsukushima Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of several shrines in Japan dedicated to the three...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddess daughters of the sea godA Shinto shrine dedicated to the three daughters of the sea god, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Th...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoA local Itsukushima Shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddesses daughters of the sea godA branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three goddess daught...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddesses of the seaItsukushima Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of several shrines in Japan dedicated to the same...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA local Itsukushima Shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto and sea deitiesA branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three sister goddess...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Tokyo
Susanoo-no-MikotoItsukushima Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's most iconic Shinto shrines. The...
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Kanagawa
Three sea goddesses (Ichikishimahime, Tagorihime, Tagitsuhime)A branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three goddess daught...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Kanagawa
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoItsukushima Shrine is dedicated to the three sister goddesses of the sea and is part of the network...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Gunma
FujitsuboItsukushima Shrine, located in Gunma Prefecture, is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan,...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Shizuoka
Itsukushima Shrine, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of the most famous and iconic Shinto shri...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Niigata
AmaterasuItsukushima Shrine, located on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famou...
View shrine →ITSUKUSHIMA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Susanoo-no-Mikoto, InariItsukushima Shrine, located in northern Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god Susano...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Shiga
Amaterasu, Inari Okami, Ebisu HikoItsukushima Shrine, located on the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, is one of Japan's mos...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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