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
Okuma Ryuo Shrine
Kagoshima
Dragon King deityA shrine dedicated to the Dragon King (Ryuo), reflecting the deep connection between Japanese Shinto...
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Okuninushi Shrine
Kagoshima
Okuninushi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the great land deity know...
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Onamuchi Shrine
Kagoshima
Onamuchi-no-mikoto (Okuninushi)A Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Onamuchi-no-mikoto, an alternative name for the...
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Onimaru Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, known by its distinctive name which incorporates th...
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Ooya Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional worshi...
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Oyamazumi Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamazumi-no-kami, deity of mountains and seaA shrine dedicated to Oyamazumi-no-kami, the Shinto deity governing mountains, sea, and warfare. Thi...
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Ryugu Shrine
Kagoshima
Toyotama-himeRyugu Shrine is dedicated to the dragon palace mythology of Japanese folklore, particularly associat...
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Shintoku Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari OkamiShintoku Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
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Shiogama Shrine
Kagoshima
Shiotsuchioji-no-kamiA Shiogama shrine dedicated to the kami of salt and the sea, reflecting the importance of salt produ...
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Shiogama Shrine
Kagoshima
Shiotsuchinooji-no-kamiShiogama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to deities associated with salt-making and maritime pro...
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Shiraishi Shrine
Kagoshima
Shiraishi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, taking its name from the Japane...
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Shiratama Toyouke Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Toyouke-no-Okami and Inari-no-OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture that enshrines both Toyouke-no-Okami, the deity of food...
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Sugawara Shrine
Kagoshima
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and...
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Sugawara Shrine
Kagoshima
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and...
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Sugawara Shrine
Kagoshima
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and...
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Sugawara Shrine
Kagoshima
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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