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 Shrine
Tokyo
nullLocated in Tokyo, Kumano Shrine is not directly associated with the Kumano region, which is typicall...
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Kumano Shrine
Osaka
Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred Shinto sites, located in the Osuneyama Park of Osaka Pre...
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Kumano Shrine
Okayama
Toshino-o-no-kamiLocated in Okayama Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the three principal dei...
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Kumano Shrine
Kyoto
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred Shinto sites, dedicated t...
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Kumano Shrine
Tochigi
Kunitsutsuchi-no-kami, Kumano Sanzan's three deities: Shinmei-no-Okami, Shizukuno-Mikoto, and HachimanKumano Shrine, located in Tochigi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice and fe...
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Kumano Shrine
鶴岡市, 山形県
Located in Shitennō-ji Temple's complex, the Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred Shinto shri...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
Susanoo no KamiLocated in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most revered Shinto sh...
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Kumano Shrine
Nagano
YatagarasuLocated in the Japanese Alps, Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines, dedicated...
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Kumano Shrine
Nagano
OkuninushiKumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, not Nagano. It is one of th...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano OkamiLocated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of Kumano...
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Kumano Shrine
小田原市, 神奈川県
HachimanKumano Shrine, located in small-town Kamakura, is a serene Shinto oasis amidst the bustling streets...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanLocated in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred and rev...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
Kumano no OkamiKumano Shrine, located in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of Japan's most revered Shint...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
Located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of the most famous and ancient Shinto shrines i...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
SusanowoLocated in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a sacred site in Japan's Kumano region, revered for...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
SusanooKumano Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred Shinto sites, dedicated to the worship of the divine pow...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
Kumano-no-OkamiLocated in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines, dedicat...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a renowned Shinto site dedicated to the worship of...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
OkappanLocated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines dedicated to...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
Located in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of Japan's most sacred and anc...
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Kumano Shrine
Yamanashi
OkuninushiKumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yamanashi Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of the Ku...
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Kumano Shrine
Shizuoka
Susanoo-no-MikotoKumano Shrine is one of Japan's most revered and historic shrines, dedicated to the god Susanoo-no-M...
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Kumano Shrine
川越市, 埼玉県
nullLocated in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fer...
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Kumano Shrine; Hachiman Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanKumano Shrine, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami of Hac...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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