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
Ishikawa
FuruhashiLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya District, Ustukuri-cho, the prestigious Furuhashi Shr...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
SusanooSpring Day Shrine in Ishikawa Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu a...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Tenman-ji Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
InariLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Gifu Sanmyo Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoAkibe Shrine, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of autumn lea...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanThe Godai Shrine, also known as the Shinmei Shrine in English, is a Shinto shrine located in the cit...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
O-no-ya-take-mikotoLocated in the Katsuyama City of Ishikawa Prefecture, Katsuyama Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine d...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
TsunojiLocated in the Ishikawa Prefecture, Tsunoji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice a...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
BenzaitenLocated in the town of Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, 瓢箪稲荷大明神 Shrine is a Shinto temple dedica...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the city of Kanazawa, the Eight Halls Shrine (Hachimanto-ji) is one of Japan's most iconi...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Okuninushi Ōkami縱河神社 (Nakahara Shrine) is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Nakahama, Ishikawa Prefecture....
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Katsurahama Shrine, located in the town of Katsurao on the western coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, is...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is dedicated to th...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Spring Day Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess A...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
OkuninushiLocated in Ishikawa Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of th...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
KaitoThe Godai-jinja Shrine, located in the city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine d...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
InariLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya District, Ishikawa's Inari Okura Shrine is one of Ja...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
FutsunokamiAutumn Leaves Shrine, located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedic...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanGold Pavilion Shrine, located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Fukuse-miyaThe Zan-sa Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity of wealth and prosperity, is a tranquil oasis in th...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Ametabu no KamiReshū-jī Jinja, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of good fo...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Mount KomaWhite Mountain Shrine, located in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site ded...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
YorimichiLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture,諏訪神社 (Fujiwara Shrine) is a revered Shinto...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Kasuga OkamiKasuga Shrine, located in the town of Katsuyama in Ishikawa Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.