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
Kusanagi Shrine
Shizuoka
SusanowoKusanagi Shrine, located in the Japanese prefecture of Shizuoka, is one of Japan's most revered shri...
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Kusanohime Shrine
Kochi
Kusanohime-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Kusanohime-no-Mikoto, a kami associated with vegeta...
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Kusha (9 shrines) Shrine
Saga
Izanagi, Izanami, Kamo-tsurushi-Okami, Hikoboshi, Ryujin, Tsukiyomi, Susanoo, Kamado-no-mori no kami, Ame-no-Minakasa no kamiThe Kusha (9 Shrines) Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of nine kami, each associat...
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Kushida Shrine
Fukuoka
AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Fukuoka, Kushida Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto shr...
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Kushiri Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
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Kusho Myojin Shrine
Shiga
Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, Kusho Myojin Shrine is a small but picturesque Shi...
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Kusukawa Tenmangu Shrine
Kagoshima
Sugawara no MichizaneKusukawa Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the...
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Kusumoto Inari-jinja Shrine
Osaka
Located in the heart of Osaka, Kusumoto Inari-jinja Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto...
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Kusunoki Shrine
Kochi
Kusunoki MasashigeA shrine dedicated to Kusunoki Masashige, the legendary 14th-century samurai and military strategist...
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Kusunomori Shrine Ruins
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Seoritsu-hime no MikotoThe ruins of Kusunomori Shrine, which was dedicated to Seoritsu-hime no Mikoto, a purification deity...
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Kusushi Shrine
Yamanashi
KashinagatsumiKusushi Shrine, located in the Yamanashi Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of sake brewing...
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Kuwa-no-kawa Torii Cedar
Kochi
A sacred cedar tree (sugi) that naturally grew in the distinctive shape of a torii gate, located in...
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Kuwabara Jinja
Nagano
RyujinLocated in the heart of Nagano, Kuwabara Jinja is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami that...
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Kuwayama jinja shrine
Kyoto
Ukanogoshi no OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Kuwayama Jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the en...
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Kuzunoha Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the fox deity Inari, associated with rice culti...
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Kuzuryū Shrine Hongū
Yamanashi
KuzuryūKuzuryū Shrine Hongū is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the nine-tailed fox spirit, also known as kuzur...
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Kuzuryusha Shrine
Nagano
Kuzuryu-daikokutenKuzuryusha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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