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
Kanai Hachiman Shrine
Tokyo
HachimanLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Kanai Hachiman Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...
View shrine →Kanai Hachiman Shrine
Tokyo
HachimanLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Kanai Hachiman Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the go...
View shrine →Kanako Shrine
津山市, 岡山県
nullKanako Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tsujo City, Okayama Prefecture. The shrine is dedicated...
View shrine →津山市, 岡山県
Kanako Shrine, located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a tranquil Shinto sanctuary dedicated...
View shrine →Kanamori Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Hokkaido, Kanamori Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto site dedicated to the wor...
View shrine →Kanaoka Shrine
堺市, 大阪府
nullKanaoka Shrine, located in Bayonne City, Osaka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the prote...
View shrine →Kanasana Shrine
Gunma
AizenokamiKanasana Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the prefecture of Gunma, Japan. The shrine is dedicate...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
Tochigi
Located in the town of Nakajo, Tochigi Prefecture, Kanayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to I...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
Ibaraki
nullLocated in the foothills of Mount Haguro, Kanayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami o...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
Chiba
Kane no KamiKanayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of Kane no...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
Kochi
Kanayama-hiko and Kanayama-himeKanayama Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deities of metalworking and mining, reflecting the histor...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
—
Kanayama-hiko and Kanayama-hime, deities of metalworking and fertilityKanayama Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deities of metalworking, mining, and fertility. The shrin...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
Kanagawa
Kanayama-hiko and Kanayama-himeKanayama Shrine is famous for its annual Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus), celebrati...
View shrine →Kanayama Shrine
千代田区, 東京都
Yamatano-OkamiKanayama Shrine, located in the heart of Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Kanayama-gu Suiten-gu
Fukushima
Suijin (water deity) and metal working deitiesA shrine combining worship of water deities (Suiten-gu) with metal working deities (Kanayama-gu), re...
View shrine →Kanazakura Shrine
Shizuoka
Hime no kami / Kami of the GoddessLocated in the city of Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kanazakura Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Kanazakura Shrine Main Shrine
Yamanashi
A mountain shrine located in Yamanashi Prefecture, known for its golden cherry blossoms and connecti...
View shrine →Kanazawa Hachiman Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionKanazawa Hachiman Shrine is a historic Hachiman shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to...
View shrine →Kanazawa Shinto Shrine
Ishikawa
Minamigawa-kamiLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Shinto Shrine is a majestic example...
View shrine →Kanda Shrine
Shizuoka
Susa-no-oKanda Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kanda, a district in Shizuoka Prefecture. Th...
View shrine →Kanda Shrine
Shimane
Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Kanda Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most re...
View shrine →Kanda Shrine
Shimane
Kamado no OkamiKanda Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated...
View shrine →Kanda Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, sharing the name with the famous Kanda Shrine in Tokyo....
View shrine →Kanda-myōjin
千代田区, 東京都
Located in the heart of Tokyo, Kanda-myōjin Shrine is a significant Shinto site dedicated to the dei...
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.