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
Kohryoh Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Hitachi-Oda, Kohryoh Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Inari Okami...
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Koi Hotaru Shrine
Yamaguchi
Deity of love and firefliesKoi Hotaru Shrine is a charming local shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture that celebrates the connection...
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Koigui Shrine
Okayama
TenryuLocated in the Okayama Prefecture, Koigui Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fish, pa...
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Koinari Shrine
Chiba
InariKoinari Shrine, located in Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosperity a...
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Koinoki Shrine
Kumamoto
Koi no Mikoto (deity of love)A unique shrine dedicated to love and romantic relationships, known throughout Japan for its powerfu...
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Koishidani Shrine
Shiga
Ōkuninoshite no Kami and Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Kohoku, Shiga Prefecture, Koishidani Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Kojin Shrine
Fukushima
Kojin (kitchen/hearth deity)A village shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Kojin, a protective deity associated with kitc...
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Kojin Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kojin (fierce protective deity)A local shrine dedicated to Kojin, a fierce protective deity in Japanese folk religion who guards ag...
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Kojin Shrine
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Kojin (fierce protective deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Kojin, a fierce protective deity in Japanese folk religion. Kojin shrin...
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Kojinjya Shrine
Shizuoka
FujinKojinjya Shrine, located in the city of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a small but historic Shinto s...
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Kojo Hachimansha
Nagano
HachimanLocated in the city of Matsumoto, Kojo Hachimansha Shrine is one of the most prominent shrines dedic...
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Kokita Inari Shrine
Nara
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the fox deity Inari Okami, who is worshipped fo...
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Kokoro Shimizu Hachiman Jinja shrine
Niigata
HachimanLocated in the heart of Niigata City, Kokoro Shimizu Hachiman Jinja shrine is a revered Shinto templ...
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Kokoro Shimizu Hachiman Jinja shrine
Niigata
HachimanLocated in the heart of Niigata, Kokoro Shimizu Hachiman Jinja shrine is a sacred site dedicated to...
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Kokoro Shimizu Hachiman Jinja shrine
Niigata
HachimanKokoro Shimizu Hachiman Jinja shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Hachiman, located in...
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Kokufu Shrine
Nara
A historic Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture associated with the ancient provincial government (kokuf...
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Kokura Tenmangu Shrine
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Sugawara no MichizaneKokura Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and poet...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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