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
Meiji Shrine
Ibaraki
Tenno (Emperor)Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empr...
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Meiji Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Meiji and Empress ShokenA shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken, establish...
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Meita Shrine
Nara
Saruta-hiko no MikotoMeita Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Yamato-Koriyama, Nara Prefecture, dedicated to Saruta-hi...
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Meitoku Inari Shrine
Chiba
InariMeitoku Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. The shrine...
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Memanbetsu Shrine
大空町, 北海道
nullMemanbetsu Shrine, located in Big Snow Town, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of s...
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Memorial Shrine
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A memorial shrine dedicated to honoring and appeasing the spirits of the deceased, particularly thos...
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Merasaki Shrine
館山市, 千葉県
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic city of Chiba, Merasaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the ka...
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Mibusawa Suwa Shrine
Nagano
Suwa-no-kamiMibusawa Suwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to t...
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Michiba Katori Shrine
Ibaraki
HieLocated in the town of Mikage, Ibaraki Prefecture, Michiba Katori Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Michigo Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
nullMichigo Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kamikatsu, White City, Ishikawa Pref...
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Midogaito Suwa Jinja
Nagano
SusanooLocated in the Japanese Alps, Midogaito Suwa Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Susanoo...
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Mihashira Shrine
新温泉町, 兵庫県
Mihashira OkamiMihashira Shrine is a Shinto temple located in New Sanqui-machi, Hyogo Prefecture. The shrine is ded...
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Mihashira Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman Okami and associated deitiesMihashira Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture that venerates three principal dei...
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Mihashira Shrine
富津市, 千葉県
Mihashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fujita-cho, Fujitsu-machi, Richi, Chiba Prefecture. D...
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Mihashira Shrine
Saga
Three primary deities: Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Amaterasu-no-Mikoto, and Tsukuyomi-no-KamiMihashira Shrine, located in the heart of Saga, is dedicated to the three primary gods of Japan: Sus...
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Mihashira-jinja Shrine
Kyoto
Mihashirase (Heavenly Three)Mihashira-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the enshrinement of the thr...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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