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
Iwata Hachiman Shrine
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Emperor Ojin (Hachiman no Kami)Iwata Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the deified Emperor Ojin who serves...
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Iwato Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Iwato Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin...
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Iwato Ochiba Shrine
Kyoto
OchibaIwato Ochiba Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sa...
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Iwato Shrine
Shiga
Shotoku TennōIwato Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, which is said to be the final r...
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Iwatotsuko Wakegi Shrine
Fukushima
Ajisukitakahikone no MikotoA historic shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto, known for its an...
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Iwatsurugi Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, distinguished by its name which combines 'iwa' (roc...
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Iwauchi-Jinja shrine
能美市, 石川県
Kami: RyujinLocated in the city of Namerikawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Iwauchi-Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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Iwaya Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, known for its cave-like setting or rock formations as s...
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Iwaya Shrine
Nagano
Iwaya Shrine, located in the Nakamachibayashi neighborhood of Nagano City, is a Shinto shrine dedica...
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Iwaya Shrine
Oita
Mountain and cave deitiesA cave shrine built into natural rock formations, representing the ancient Japanese tradition of sac...
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Iwaya-jinja Shrine
Hyogo
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Iwaya-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Iwayama Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Iwayama Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of...
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Iyahiko Jinja
札幌市, 北海道
IyahikoIyahiko Jinja, located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami I...
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Iyataka Shrine
Akita
InariIyataka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami Inari. The shri...
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Iyato-jinja Shrine
Hyogo
Tamayori-no-KamiIyato-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hyogo Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of arrows a...
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Izanagi Shrine
Hyogo
IzanamiIzanagi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hyogo Prefecture, dedicated to the deity Izanagi, one o...
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Izanagi Shrine
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Izanagi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Izanagi-no-Mikoto, one of the primordial creator deities in Japanese my...
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Izanagi Shrine Main Hall
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Izanagi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Izanagi-no-Mikoto, one of the primordial creator deities in Japanese my...
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Izanami-no-Miya Main Hall
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Izanami-no-MikotoA shrine dedicated to Izanami-no-Mikoto, one of the primordial creator deities in Japanese mythology...
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Izanami-no-miya Shrine
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Izanami-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Izanami-no-Mikoto, one of the primordial creator deities in Japanese my...
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Izawa Shrine
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Amaterasu-OmikamiOne of the most sacred auxiliary shrines of Ise Grand Shrine, located in Shima City, Mie Prefecture....
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Izokosha
Nagano
Izokosha Shrine, located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, is dedicated to the kami of the same...
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Izu Jinja
Nagano
Izanagi, IzanamiIzu Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Izu, Nagano Prefecture. Dedicated to the...
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Izu-San Shrine Head Shrine Building
Kanagawa
Izu SanIzu-San Shrine, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain god and...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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