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
Masaki Inari Shrine
Yamaguchi
Inari OkamiMasaki Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prospe...
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Massaki Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Massaki Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Kinugawa on the shores of Lake...
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Masuda-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
Masuda-kamiMasuda-jinja Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of the same name...
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Masuyama Hachiman Shrine
Kagoshima
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionMasuyama Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the deifi...
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Matafuri Shrine
Shiga
Matafuri Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is a well-preserved...
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Matami-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Matami-no-kamiLocated in the coastal town of Kamakura, Matami-jinja Shrine is dedicated to Matami-no-kami, a kami...
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Matsubara Ebisu-sha Shrine
Fukuoka
EbisuMatsubara Ebisu-sha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, on...
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Matsubara Inari-jinja Shrine
Fukuoka
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Fukuoka, Matsubara Inari-jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Matsubara Kawaso-sha Shrine
Fukuoka
KawasoMatsubara Kawaso-sha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukuoka Prefecture, dedicated to the deity...
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Matsubara Naginoki-sha Shrine
Fukuoka
NaginokiMatsubara Naginoki-sha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Naginoki, located in the Mat...
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Matsubara Shrine
小田原市, 神奈川県
Sugisaki-no-kamiMatsubara Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The shrine...
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Matsubara-jinja Shrine
Fukuoka
TenjinLocated in the heart of Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Matsubara-jinja Shrine is a well-preserved Shin...
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Matsudaira Jinja
Nagano
Yamabe no OkamiMatsudaira Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Nagano prefecture, dedicated to the Matsumoto and...
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Matsudaira Toshogu Shrine
Gifu
Tokugawa IeyasuA Toshogu shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, reflecting the connection between the Matsudaira and...
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Matsudo Shrine
松戸市, 千葉県
RyūjinMatsudo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. Dedicated...
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Matsue Gokoku Shrine
Tottori
HachimanMatsue Gokoku Shrine, dedicated to the sea deity and patron of Matsumae clan in Tottori Prefecture,...
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Matsue Shrine
Tottori
Inari OkamiMatsue Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsue, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. The shrin...
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Matsugami Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
FujinMatsugami Shrine, located in the heart of Nyahei Town, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the primary d...
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Matsui Shrine
Kumamoto
Hachiman, spirit of the Matsui clanA shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman and associated with the historical Matsui clan...
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Matsukage Shrine
Saga
MatsukageMatsukage Shrine, located in Saga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of the camph...
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Matsukawa Irisakura Shrine
Nagano
Inari OkamiMatsukawa Irisakura Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Okaya, Nagano Prefecture...
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MATSUMAE GOKOKU shrine
松前町, 北海道
GokokuLocated in the city of Matsusaka-cho, Hokkaido, Matsumae Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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