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
MATSUMAE shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanMATSUMAE shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsusaka, Hokkaido, Japan. As one of the...
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Matsumoto Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Matsune-sha Shrine
Fukuoka
Matsumeyama no OkamiMatsune-sha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. The shrine...
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Matsunomori Shrine
Nagasaki
InariMatsunomori Shrine, located in Nagasaki Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of the...
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Matsunoo Taisha
Kyoto
Amaterasu OmikamiMatsunoo Taisha is a prominent Shinto shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to the kami Amaterasu Omikami, who...
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Matsuo Hachimangu
Yamaguchi
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Matsuo Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin...
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Matsuo Shrine
Fukushima
Oyamazumi-no-mikotoMatsuo Shrine is dedicated to Oyamazumi-no-mikoto, the Shinto deity of mountains and sea. The shrine...
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Matsuo Shrine
Kochi
Oyamakui-no-kamiMatsuo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the deity of Mou...
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Matsuo Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui no KamiMatsuo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, a deity assoc...
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Matsuo Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui-no-kamiMatsuo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the deity of...
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Matsuo Shrine
Shimane
Susanoo-no-MikotoMatsuo Shrine, located in the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's most beautiful...
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Matsushima Jinja
Chiba
Located in the scenic town of Matsushima, Chiba Prefecture, Matsushima Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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Matsushita Inari Shrine
Chiba
InariMatsushita Inari Shrine, located in Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Inar...
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Matsuzaka Inari
Chiba
Inari OkamiMatsuzaka Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsuzaka, Chiba Prefecture. Dedica...
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Matsuzaka Shrine
Miyagi
Matsuzaka Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the enshrined deity...
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Matsuzaki Hachimangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Emperor OjinA Hachiman shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin, the deified 15th emperor of Japa...
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Matsuzaki Shrine
Fukuoka
nullMatsuzaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukuoka Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the same...
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Mefu-jinja Shrine
Kyoto
nullMefu-jinja Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of commerce...
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Meguromeguro Yamanokami Shrine
Kochi
Mountain deityA mountain shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Yamanokami, the Shinto deity of mountains. The sh...
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Meiji Jingu Main Shrine
渋谷区, 東京都
Empress ShokenMeiji Jingu Main Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yoyogi Park, Shibuya, Tokyo, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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