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
Mihizuka Shrine
Gifu
Emperor NintokuMihizuka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Nintoku, the legendary 16...
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Miho Kashima-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Miho no KamiMiho Kashima-jinja Shrine, located in the scenic town of Miho in Chiba Prefecture, is dedicated to t...
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Miho Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
YatagarasuMiho Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess of grain, rice, and fertility in the city of...
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Miho Shrine
Tottori
OtohimeLocated in the scenic town of Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Miho Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedi...
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Miho Shrine
Shizuoka
Amaterasu OmikamiMiho Shrine, located in the city of Katsuura, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Mihono Inari Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
InariMihono Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Kominato, Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the kami...
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Mihotsu Himesha
Tokushima
Located in the heart of Tokushima Prefecture, Mihotsu Himesha Shrine is dedicated to the legendary P...
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Mikado Shrine
Nara
A Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, distinguished by its name which incorporates 'mikado,' a...
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Mikami Jinja Shrine
Kyoto
Mikamimi-no-KamiMikami Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the kami Mikamimi-no-Kami, the...
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Mikami Shrine
Shiga
Located in the city of Maibara, Mikami Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Mikami-no-kam...
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Mikami Shrine
野洲市, 滋賀県
MikamigamiLocated in the heart of Nara Prefecture's rural countryside, Mikami Shrine is a serene and secluded...
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Mikane Shrine
Shiga
Mikane-jinMikane Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the town of Teshima, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicate...
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Mikasa Shrine
Gunma
MikasaMikasa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Mikasa, Gunma Prefecture, and is dedicated t...
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Mikasa Shrine
Kumamoto
Mikasa Shrine served as the chief protective shrine (sōchinju) of the Miike Domain during the Edo pe...
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Mikawa Ebisu Shrine
—
EbisuA local Ebisu shrine in the Mikawa region dedicated to the fortune deity Ebisu, one of the Seven Luc...
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Mikawa Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari OkamiMikawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the deity o...
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Mikawa Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Inari OkamiLocated in Ibaraki Prefecture, Mikawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice...
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Mikawa Sosha Shrine
—
Regional kami of former Mikawa ProvinceMikawa Sosha serves as the provincial shrine (sosha) for the former Mikawa Province, now part of eas...
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Mikazuki Shrine
Ibaraki
Mikazuki-no-kamiMikazuki Shrine, located in the town of Kamakura in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Miki Shrine
Shimane
Yamabiko, Yatagarasu, TengokuMiki Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Iwami City, Shimane Prefecture, dedicated to the three spi...
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Miko Stone
Tochigi
Miko Stone Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture. The shrine'...
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Mikumari Shrine
Nara
Water distribution deityMikumari Shrine is dedicated to water deities who control the distribution and flow of water for agr...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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