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
Izuki Hachimangu
Nagano
HachimanIzuki Hachimangu Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war and patron deity of...
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Izuki Tenmangu
Nagano
HachimanLocated in the town of Okuizuki in Nagano Prefecture, Izuki Tenmangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedic...
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Izumi Shrine
Okinawa
Izumi no OkamiIzumi Shrine, located in Naha, Okinawa, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the Ryukyu Kingdom. T...
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Izumi Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, known for its peaceful approach pathway (sando) that...
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Izumi Shrine
Tokyo
HachimanLocated in the Chiba Prefecture, not Tokyo, Izumi Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the deity o...
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Izumo Grand Shrine
Shimane
SusanooLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Izumo Grand Shrine is one of Japan's most renowne...
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Izumo Jinja
Miyagi
Inari OkamiIzumo Jinja, located in the Tohoku region of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
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Izumo Jinja
Miyagi
Inari OkamiLocated in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, Izumo Jinja is a Shinto shrine that enshrines th...
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Izumo Shrine
Yamaguchi
Okuninushi-no-MikotoIzumo Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is a regional shrine dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the gre...
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Izumo Taisha Shrine Tokyo Branch
Chiba
OinagisanIzumo Taisha Shrine's Tokyo Branch is a Shinto shrine located in Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Izumo Taisha Tosa Branch Shrine
Kochi
Okuninushi-no-MikotoA branch shrine of the famous Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture, established in Kochi Prefecture to...
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Izumo-taisya Osaka bunshi Shrine
堺市, 大阪府
InariThe Izumo-taisya Osaka bunshi Shrine in Osaka's Bayeshi ward is dedicated to the Shinto god Inari, p...
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Izusan Shrine
Kanagawa
Osumi-yorokobonoIzusan Shrine, located in the town of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Jaike Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name translates to 'Snake Pond Shrine,' suggesting hi...
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Jamongan (Serpentinite)
Nagano
RyujinJanganji Temple, a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
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Jaou Daigongen Shrine
Kochi
Snake deityA Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Jaou Daigongen, a powerful snake deity. The shrine...
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Jiandō
君津市, 千葉県
Yamat-no-okamiJiandō Shrine, located in Kintsu City, Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Jihanki Jinja Shrine
Miyagi
Hachiman, Tsukuyomi, FujinJihanki Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of vendi...
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Jinbei Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
nullJinbei Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Daigo, Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated t...
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Jingi Taisha Shrine
Shizuoka
RaijinJingi Taisha Shrine, located in the heart of Japan's scenic Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, is...
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Jinmei Shrine
Chiba
InariLocated in the city of Sakurako, Chiba Prefecture, Jinmei Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicat...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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