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
Kunugi Shrine
Nara
A local Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, named after the kunugi oak tree which holds significance i...
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Kurahashi sosha Shrine
Osaka
TenjinKurahashi Sosha Shrine, located in Osaka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of brid...
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Kurainaridaimyojin Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiKurainaridaimyojin Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Narita City, Chiba Prefecture....
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Kuramae Shrine
台東区, 東京都
TsuchimikadoLocated in the heart of Tokyo's Adachi ward, not to be confused with another shrine named after a di...
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Kuramochi Kasuga Shrine
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Kasuga deitiesKuramochi Kasuga Shrine is a local Kasuga-affiliated shrine that enshrines the traditional four Kasu...
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Kuraokami Shrine
Aomori
KamaitachiKuraokami Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice and...
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Kurashina sorei-sha Shrine
Nagano
nullLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Kurashina Sorei-sha Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto si...
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Kurihara Hikawa-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Kurihara Hikawa-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Tōma, Ibaraki Prefecture. The...
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Kurikara Jinja
Nagano
Kurikara no OkamiLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Kurikara Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...
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Kurimitsuinaridaijin
Shiga
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Maibara, Kurimitsu Inaradaijin Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated t...
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Kurishima Shrine
Kochi
HachimanKurishima Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of war and...
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Kurisu shrine
Ishikawa
OkuniLocated in the heart of Japan's Echizen region, Kurisu Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the deif...
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Kuriyama Hie Shrine
Ibaraki
HieKuriyama Hie Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the northern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated...
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Kurokawa Jinja
大和町, 宮城県
Tamatsumi-Ō no Ōe-no-MikotoLocated in the scenic town of Ōdō, Miyagi Prefecture is Kurokawa Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Kurumazaki Shrine
Kyoto
Amaterasu-okamiKurumazaki Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto's Arashiyama bamboo forest, is a serene Shinto sanc...
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Kusadoinari Shrine
Okayama
Mikasa-yoshino-okena no kamiLocated in Okayama Prefecture, Kusadoinari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess of ric...
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Kusaki Hachiman Shrine
Kumamoto
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)A Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associate...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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