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
Kawana Goryo Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsKawana Goryo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to goryo, or vengeful spirit...
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Kawanabe Shrine
津山市, 岡山県
Mimi no MikotoKawanabe Shrine, located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the wa...
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Kawanabe Shrine
津山市, 岡山県
KusunokiKawanabe Shrine, located in Okayama City, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of good f...
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Kawanishi Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the picturesque town of Kawanishi, Hokkaido, Kawanishi Shrine is a serene Shinto temple d...
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Kawanoe Hachiman Shrine
Hiroshima
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)A Hachiman shrine located in Hiroshima Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associat...
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Kawaramachi Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiKawaramachi Shinmei Shrine is a Shinmei-style shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami....
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Kawarazawa Yahashira Jinja
Nagano
Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Kawarazawa Yahashira Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Kawasaki Inari Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiKawasaki Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the goddess of rice, Inari Okami, located in K...
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Kawashima Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious c...
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Kawauchi Daimyojin Shrine
Kochi
Kawauchi Daimyojin is a local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving as a spiritual cent...
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Kawawa Shrine
Kanagawa
Ōnamuchi-no-Mikoto and other deitiesKawawa Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine located in Ninomiya, Kanagawa Prefecture, with origins tra...
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Kawazu Hachiman Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanLocated in the city of Fujioka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kawazu Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedic...
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Kaya-jinja
姫路市, 兵庫県
Kaya-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, dedicated to the worship o...
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kayanojinja
Shiga
Kayanoshinno-mikotoLocated in the picturesque village of Maibara, Kayanojinja Shrine is a serene oasis nestled amidst t...
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Kayao-jinja Shrine
Shiga
Located in the picturesque town of Kotohira, Kayao-jinja Shrine is a minor Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Kazahaya Shrine
Ibaraki
Katsuragi no OkamiKazahaya Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of wind and harvest...
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Kazaninari Shrine
Shiga
InariLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Kazaninari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Kaze Shrine
Nara
Shinatsuhiko-no-mikoto (wind deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to wind deities, particularly significant in Japanese agricultural and mar...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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