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
Kagoyamainari-jinja Shrine
Yamagata
InariLocated in the heart of Yamagata, Kagoyamainari-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to...
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Kagura Shrine
Hokkaido
nullKagura Shrine, located in Hokkaido, Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of music and dan...
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Kagura Shrine
Wakayama
A Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the sacred performing arts of kagura, traditiona...
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Kagutsuchi Shrine
Gifu
Kagutsuchi-no-kamiA shrine dedicated to Kagutsuchi, the Shinto fire deity whose birth caused the death of Izanami in J...
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Kagutsuchi Shrine
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Kagutsuchi, the fire deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to Kagutsuchi, the powerful fire deity from Japanese mythology. Kagutsuchi...
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Kai Shrine
函館市, 北海道
RyujinKai Shrine, located in Hokkatsu, is dedicated to the Shinto god of the sea, Ryujin, and is said to h...
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Kaijin Shrine
Nagasaki
RyujinLocated in the city of Nagasaki, Kaijin Shrine is dedicated to the sea god Ryujin, a powerful deity...
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Kaijō Shrine
Kagoshima
Maritime protection deitiesKaijō Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to deities associated wit...
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Kaiko Shrine
Gunma
MikotoLocated in the Gunma prefecture, Kaiko Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of the mounta...
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Kainan Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Kainan Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Miura, Kanagawa Prefecture, overlooking Sagami...
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Kainan Shrine
Kanagawa
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Kainan Shrine is a prominent Hachiman shrine located in Miura, Kanagawa Prefecture, situated on a hi...
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Kaishu Kato Shrine
Kumamoto
Kato KiyomasaA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Kato Kiyomasa, the renowned daimyo and military...
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Kaitaku Shrine
Hokkaido
nullKaitaku Shrine, located in the scenic countryside of Hokkaido, Japan, is a Shinto sanctuary dedicate...
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Kaiun Daikoku Sonten Shrine
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DaikokutenA shrine dedicated to Daikokuten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese folklore, specifically ven...
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Kaizando Tenjin Sugawara Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician who became th...
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Kajikaeshi Tenmangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenmangu shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified spirit of...
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Kajitani Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protection View shrine →
Kajiya Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman no Kami)A local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deit...
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Kakikara Tenmangu Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
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Kakizawa Shrine
Toyama
HachimanKakizawa Shrine, located in the city of Toyama, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the enshrined deity...
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Kakugo Inari Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Chōda, Chiba Prefecture, Kakugo Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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