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
Kitaoka Shrine
Kumamoto
Hondawake no Mikoto (Emperor Ojin)Kitaoka Shrine is a historic Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto, serving as one of the important sp...
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Kitaro Shrine
—
A shrine associated with the popular manga and anime character Kitaro from GeGeGe no Kitaro, created...
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KITAYA shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiKITAYA shrine, located in the northern valley of Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine that enshrines...
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Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine
Tokyo
HachimanKitazawa Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the northern part of Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. Th...
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Kitazawa Inari Daimyojin
Nagano
Inari OkamiKitazawa Inari Daimyojin is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Komagane, Nagano Prefectur...
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KIYOBE HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanLocated in the city of Matsuechū, northern Hokkaido, Kiyobe Hachiman Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto...
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KIYOBE HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanLocated in the heart of Matsue town, Kiyobe Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deit...
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Kiyokawa Jinja
Miyagi
FujinKiyokawa Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on the northe...
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Kiyomizu Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
InariLocated in the heart of Ibaraki Prefecture, Kiyomizu Inari Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated...
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Kiyomori Shrine
Shimane
Shigenari no OkamiKiyomori Shrine, located in the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to Shigenari no O...
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Kiyosato Shrine
Hokkaido
Kiyosato Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Kiyosato Village of Etsu District, Hokkaido. As on...
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Kiyoshima Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to local kami and serving the spiritual needs...
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Kizawa Hachiman Shrine
Nagano
HachimanKizawa Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to...
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Kizawa Hakusan Jinja
Nagano
Hakusan Okami, Tamayama no Okami, InariKizawa Hakusan Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Nakatsuguni region of Nagano Prefecture, Japa...
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Kizobo- Suijinjya Shirine
Shizuoka
SuijinLocated in the scenic town of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kizobo-Suijinjya Shrine is dedicated to th...
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Kizuki Shrine
Tokyo
Yamato no OkamiLocated in the heart of Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, Kizuki Shrine is a tranquil oasis nestled between to...
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Kizuki Shrine
Nara
Okuninushi-no-MikotoKizuki Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the great lan...
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Kizuki Shrine
Nara
Okuninushi-no-MikotoKizuki Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the great dei...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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