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
Kibune Shrine
鋸南町, 千葉県
Kamui no MikotoKibune Shrine, located in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest shrines, with a...
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Kida Shrine
福井市, 福井県
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Fukui city, Kida Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits...
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Kido Gorobee Shrine
Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Kido Gorobee Shrine is a rural Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity I...
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Kifune Shrine
Gifu
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine is dedicated to water deities and is particularly revered for prayers related to water...
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Kifune Shrine
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Takaokami-no-kami (water deity)Kifune Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the mountains north of Kyoto, renowned for its...
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Kifune Shrine
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Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine is one of Japan's most important water deity shrines, nestled in the forested mountain...
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Kifune Shrine
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Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine is a sacred Shinto site dedicated to the deity of water and rain, nestled in a foreste...
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Kifune Shrine
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Takaokami-no-kami, deity of water and rainKifune Shrine is dedicated to water deities and is renowned for its association with rain prayers an...
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Kifune Shrine
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Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine is one of Japan's most important water shrines, nestled in the forested mountains nort...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and serves the local community's...
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Kifune Shrine
Oita
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Oita Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and serves as an important spiritual...
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Kifune Shrine
Oita
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Oita Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and is part of the broader Kifune shr...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Water deities and rain godsA Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to water deities, sharing its name and spiritual l...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and is associated with prayers f...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takaokami-no-kamiA Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the water deity Takaokami-no-kami. Kifune shrin...
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Kifune Shrine
Shiga
Located in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Kifune Shrine is one of Japan's oldest shrines, dating...
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Kifune Shrine
Kanagawa
Located in the city of Odawara, Kifune Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosperity...
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Kifune Shrine Okumiya
Shiga
Kiso no OkamiKifune Shrine Okumiya is a revered Shinto shrine located in Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the worsh...
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Kifune Taisha
Fukushima
Takaokami-no-kamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Takaokami-no-kami, the dragon deity of water and rain. Part of the broa...
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Kifunesha
Nagano
RyujinKifunesha Shrine, located in the Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the...
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Kigami Shrine
Shimane
nullLocated in the heart of Shimane Prefecture, Kigami Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine that has been...
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Kii Shrine
Miyazaki
A Shinto shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture that maintains the traditional worship practices of the regio...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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