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
Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
SanzanLocated in the town of Kesennuma, Kumano Jinja is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, dedicat...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
ŌjinLocated in the northern part of Japan, Kumano Jinja is one of the most sacred Shinto shrines dedicat...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
Kumano OkamiKumano Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated to the worship of Kum...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
Daiitokoro-no-KamiLocated in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, Kumano Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the wor...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
nullKumano Jinja, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's most renowned Shinto shrines dedicated...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
SusanooKumano Jinja, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines, dedicated...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
Yamabe no OkamiKumano Jinja, located in the prefecture of Miyagi, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of th...
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Kumano Jinja
Iwate
Located in the heart of northern Japan, Kumano Jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the wo...
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Kumano Jinja
Miyagi
YakamochiKumano Jinja, a Shinto shrine located in Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's most revered shrines,...
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Kumano Jinja
柏市, Ibaraki
nullKumano Jinja, located in the city of Sakurakai, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Kumano jinja
板橋区, 東京都
nullKumano-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Bunkyo ward, Tokyo, dedicated to the worship of Kumano-ga...
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Kumano jinja ｓｈrine
Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Kumano Jinja Shrine is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines, de...
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Kumano Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kumano Gongen deitiesA local Kumano shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines throu...
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Kumano Shrine
Nara
Kumano Gongen deitiesKumano Shrine in Nara Prefecture is a local branch of the famous Kumano Sanzan pilgrimage sites. Lik...
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Kumano Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kumano Gongen (manifestation of Buddhist-Shinto syncretism)A Kumano shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, part of the widespread network of Kumano shrines throughout...
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Kumano Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture that serves as a regional branch of the famous Kumano Sanzan...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA branch shrine of the famous Kumano Sanzan in Wakayama Prefecture, this Kanagawa shrine maintains t...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Gongen deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deities of the Kumano faith. Kumano...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful Kumano deities. Kumano shrines are...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deities of the Kumano Sanzan, the t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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