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
Katte Shrine
Kochi
Local protective deityKatte Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture. The name 'Katte' suggests it may...
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Katte Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that serves the local community with traditional worship practice...
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Kawa Shrine
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River and water deitiesKawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to water and river deities, reflecting Japan's deep reveren...
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Kawachi Daimyojin Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to regional protective deities. The name Daimyoj...
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Kawachi Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of worship and s...
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Kawachi Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Kawachi Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Kawachi Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kawachi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, serving as a local spiritual cent...
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Kawachi Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of worship and s...
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Kawachi Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding co...
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Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine
川越市, 埼玉県
HachimanLocated in the historic city of Kawagoe, Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine is a renowned Shinto shrine dedic...
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Kawaguchi Asama Shrine
Yamanashi
InariLocated in the Kofu region of Yamanashi Prefecture, Kawaguchi Asama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedica...
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Kawaguchi Shrine
亘理町, 宮城県
Kawaguchi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, and is one of...
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Kawaguchi-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Tsukiyomi-no-KamiKawaguchi-jinja Shrine, located in the town of Sakurako, Chiba Prefecture, is dedicated to Tsukiyomi...
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Kawahara Daijingu Shrine
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiKawahara Daijingu is an Imperial shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the s...
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Kawai Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Emperor OjinA Hachiman shrine located in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin and associated deities. As a...
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Kawai Shrine
Nara
Kawai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, known for its historical significance an...
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Kawai Shrine
Shiga
HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Ryukō, Shiga Prefecture, Kawai Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
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Kawaji Jinja
Nagano
KusunokiKawaji Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, situated on the wester...
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Kawaji Suwa Jinja
Nagano
Suwa-no-OkamiLocated in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Kawaji Suwa Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Kawamata Shrine
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Kawamata Shrine is a Shikinaisha, one of the ancient shrines listed in the 10th-century Engishiki re...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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