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
Itsukushima Shrine
Saitama
AmaterasuLocated on the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, not Saitama, Itsukushima Shrine is one of...
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Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
Chiba
AmaterasuItsukushima-jinja Shrine, located on the island of Naoshima in Seto Inland Sea, is one of Japan's mo...
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Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Itsuki-no-kamiItsukushima-jinja Shrine, located on the island of Miura in Chiba Prefecture, is one of Japan's most...
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Iwafune Shrine
Kumamoto
Iwafune no KamiIwafune Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Iwafune no Kami, a deity...
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Iwagami Inari Shrine
Gunma
Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Shimoishi, Gunma Prefecture, Iwagami Inari Shrine is a small but charming Shi...
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Iwagami Shrine
Shimane
Iwagami-yama-tsurugi no Kamikawa-ginokamiLocated in the scenic town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Iwagami Shrine is a serene Shinto oasis ne...
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Iwagami-jinja and Amamiya-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
Amamukage, Kusanagi-no-kamiLocated in the coastal town of Ishinomaki, Iwagami-jinja and Amamiya-jinja Shrine is dedicated to th...
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Iwahashi Shrine
Fukushima
Okuni-nushi-no-mikoto and local mountain deitiesIwahashi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture, known for i...
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Iwakiyama Shrine
Aomori
Located in the heart of Aomori Prefecture, Iwakiyama Shrine is a serene and historic Shinto temple d...
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Iwakura Jinja
Miyagi
Iwakura Jinja, located in the scenic Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of agricultu...
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Iwakura Shrine
Kochi
Kami dwelling in sacred rocksIwakura Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture that represents the ancient Japanese tradition...
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Iwamoto Shrine
Saga
TsukuyomiIwamoto Shrine, located in the scenic town of Tsushima in Saga Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site...
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Iwamuro Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanIwamuro Shrine, located in the town of Kakegawa in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Iwanai Konpira Shrine
Hokkaido
KonpiraIwanai Konpira Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iwanai, Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicated t...
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Iwanoue Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman deity and related kamiIwanoue Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to Hachiman and associated...
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Iwasaki Hachiman Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionIwasaki Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Em...
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Iwasaki Shrine
Saga
HachimanIwasaki Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Saga Prefecture, Japan, dedicated to the kami of the Iw...
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Iwasaku Shrine
Tochigi
IwasakuIwasaku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and is dedicated...
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Iwasekoroku Shrine
Ibaraki
EnmeiIwasekoroku Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Enmei an...
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Iwasugi Shrine
Nagasaki
Spirit of the sacred rock and ancient cedar treeA small shrine on Tsushima Island that venerates the spiritual power residing in a sacred rock forma...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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