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
Kwisil Shrine
Shiga
nullLocated in the town of Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, Kwisil Shrine is a small but significant Shinto sh...
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Kyokoku Inari Shrine
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Inari OkamiKyokoku Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine dedicated to the fox deity Inari Okami, who is revered...
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Kyotakigu Shrine
Shiga
nullLocated in the mountains of Shiga Prefecture, Kyotakigu Shrine is a lesser-known yet charming Shinto...
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Kyoto Daijingu Shrine
Shiga
Amaterasu OmikamiKyoto Daijingu Shrine is one of the oldest and most revered Shinto shrines in Japan, located at the...
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Kyoto Ryōzen-Gokoku Shrine
Shiga
RyūjinLocated in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Kyoto Ryōzen-Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Kyozan Inari Shrine
Oita
Inari OkamiKyozan Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine located in Oita Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and...
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Kyusenbu Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Kyusenbu DaimyojinA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Kyusenbu Daimyojin, a regional deity associated...
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Loyal Souls Shrine
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spirits of war deadA war memorial shrine dedicated to honoring the spirits of those who died in military service. These...
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Mabashi Shrine
杉並区, 東京都
HachimanMabashi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sagamihara, a city within the western part...
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Macchu-utaki Sacred Site
Okinawa
RyujinThe Macchu-utaki Sacred Site, located in Okinawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the myt...
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Machida Tenmangu
Tokyo
Sugawara no MichizaneMachida Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Machida, Tokyo, dedicated to the deity S...
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奈義町, 岡山県
MachigamiMachigawa Shrine, located in Ōita City, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of the Machigawa R...
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Madoromi Shrine
Kanagawa
Madoromi-jinLocated in the city of Odawara, Madoromi Shrine is one of the oldest and most revered Shinto shrines...
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Maeno Kumano Shrine
Saitama
Located in the town of Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, Maeno Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Magotaro Inari Shrine
Nara
Inari OkamiMagotaro Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the rice deity Inari O...
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Magowakamiko Shrine
Gifu
Magowakamiko-no-mikotoA local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Magowakamiko-no-mikoto. The shrine serves the...
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Maguro Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
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Maguwa Kojinsha
奈義町, 岡山県
nullLocated in the scenic town of Nanyo, Maguwa Kojinsha Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Maijima Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
InariLocated on a small island in the Izu Strait, Maijima Inari Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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