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
Main Shrine
Saitama
nullLocated in the heart of Saitama, the Main Shrine is a tranquil oasis that embodies the serene spirit...
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Main Shrine
Shiga
Oinari-sanThe Main Shrine in Shiga Prefecture is a sacred site dedicated to the worship of the kami Inari Okam...
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Maioka Shrine
Kanagawa
Local protective deitiesMaioka Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in the Maioka area of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture....
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Makado Shrine
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Deities of gateways and boundariesA Shinto shrine dedicated to deities associated with entrance ways, boundaries, and protection. The...
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Make-jinja
南丹市, 京都府
Mokui-tsurugi-no-kamiLocated in the city of Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, Mokui-jinja Shrine is a serene and historic Shinto...
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Makino Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiMakino Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun...
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Makino Shrine
Toyohashi, Aichi
Local protective deitiesMakino Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, serving as a communit...
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Mame Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)A local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the divine spirit of Emperor Ojin and associ...
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Mamizuka Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiMamizuka Shinmei Shrine is a local Shinmei shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess an...
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Manai Shrine
Kyoto
Manai Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same name...
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Manba Suwa Jinja
Nagano
ManbaManba Suwa Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to the k...
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Mandokoro Tenmansha Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
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Fukuoka
Manshirō OkamiManshiro Shrine, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto deity of th...
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Mantai Butsu
Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Mantai Butsu Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Manzoku Inari Shrine
文京区, 東京都
Inari OkamiManzoku Inari Shrine, located in Setagaya Ward of Tokyo, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity I...
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Maruyama Daibenzaiten
Wakayama
BenzaitenA Benzaiten shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the Buddhist deity Benzaiten, who is...
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Maruyama Nishimachi Jinja
札幌市, 北海道
JikinokiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Maruyama Nishimachi Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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Maruyama Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanLocated in the heart of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Maruyama Shrine is a historic Shinto temple...
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Masakado no Kubizuka
Chiba
MasakadoMasakado no Kubizuka is a Shinto shrine located in Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the enshrined deit...
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Masaki Inari Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiMasaki Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice goddess Inari Okami, located in the tow...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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