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
Shimane
Yatagarasu (Yokai, Sea God)Subo no Irii-ya Shrine, dedicated to the god of the sea and fishing, is located on a scenic coastlin...
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Shimane
Located in the Seto Inland Sea region of Shimane Prefecture, Eight Gates Shrine is a Shinto shrine d...
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Shimane
InazumaThe Shishan Shrine, located in the Shikoku Mountains of Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shin...
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Shimane
Inari OkamiThe Arahama Jinja Shrine, located in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okam...
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Shimane
NinjōLocated in the prefecture of Shimane,九郎神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ninjō, a kami associat...
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Shimane
Castanopsis fudansii, or chinkapin, trees are said to be the favorite of Matsubae no Okami, a kami e...
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Shimane
Amaterasu OmikamiIse Grand Shrine, located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, is one of the most revered Shin...
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Shimane
ŌkonjiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, the Ōkonji Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god...
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Shimane
Big God, Ama-no-oki-tachiBig God Shrine, located in the town of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous a...
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Shimane
nullLocated in the Odaigahara region of Shimane Prefecture, Kinneganjunsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Shimane
SensuSensen-ja Shrine in Shikoku is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea goddess Sensu. Founded in the He...
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Shimane
Rezabashi OkamiRezabashi Shrine, located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, is a well-known Shinto shrine d...
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Shimane
Yuki-yoshizumeLocated in the Odaigahara Mountains of Shimane Prefecture, Matsu no Shiroi Jinja is a lesser-known S...
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Shimane
Oigoma-himeLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture,稲生神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice...
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Shimane
KuugaKuugan-sa Shrine, located in Iwami Province, is dedicated to the rice god Kuuga. The shrine's archit...
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Shimane
nullFive-Grain Shrine in Shimane Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto deity of agriculture, rice, and p...
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Shimane
BenzaitenLocated in the scenic town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, 西山八幡神社 is a historic Shinto shrine d...
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Shimane
Mimi no KamiMomi no Okami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Hikawa, Shimane Prefecture. Dedicated...
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Shimane
OkamisanNakayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest, located in the heart of Shim...
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Shimane
InariLocated in the picturesque town of Hikawa, Shimane Prefecture, Kusunahitatsu Shrine is dedicated to...
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Shimane
Located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Ifriya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Shimane
Located in the scenic Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture, 胡子神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Shimane
Amaterasu Omikami, RyujinResha-ki Jinja, located in the town of Matsue in western Shimane Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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Shimane
TsumebiTsumebi-jin no Michi, or the 'Road to Tsumebi', leads visitors through a tranquil forest before arri...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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