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
Mitsumine Shrine
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Izanagi and IzanamiA mountain shrine dedicated to the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami, known for its spiritual powe...
View shrine →Mitsumine Shrine
Gunma
YorimasaMitsumine Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Tokugawa, Gunma Prefecture. The shrine is...
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Gunma
HachimanMitsumine Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Gunma Prefecture, and it is one of the most sacred sh...
View shrine →Mitsumine-jinja Shrine
Chiba
ŌkuninushiMitsumine-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the three mountain peaks of Mt. T...
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Chiba
OinamimiMitsumine-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the god...
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Ibaraki
Mitsumine-jinja Shrine, located in the Fujioka District of Ibaraki Prefecture, is a revered Shinto s...
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Saitama
Mitsumine-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the scenic Gunma prefecture, but it wa...
View shrine →Mitsuminesama
Nagano
Mt. MitsumineMitsuminesama Shrine, located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, is a serene and peaceful oasis dedi...
View shrine →Miwa Shrine
三郷市, 埼玉県
Tamayama no OkamiLocated in Saitama Prefecture, Miwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and...
View shrine →Miwa-jinja
南丹市, 京都府
Amaterasu, Inari, othersLocated in the city of MinamiKyoto, Miwa-jinja Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto Prefectu...
View shrine →Miyagi Gokoku Shrine
Miyagi
HachimanMiyagi Gokoku Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines d...
View shrine →Miyajidake Hachiman Shinto Shrine
Nagasaki
HachimanLocated in the city of Nagasaki, Miyajidake Hachiman Shinto Shrine is a revered site dedicated to th...
View shrine →Miyajidake Shrine
Miyazaki
Emperor Ojin, Empress Jingu, Tamayori-himeMiyajidake Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin, Empress Jin...
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Fukuoka
Myo-oh no KamiLocated in the heart of Kyushu, Miyajidake Shrine is a serene Shinto temple nestled amidst lush gree...
View shrine →Miyajidake Shrine
Saga
InariMiyajidake Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Saga Prefecture, dedicated to the k...
View shrine →Miyake Shrine
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Emperor Kammu and other imperial ancestorsMiyake Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Kyoto that serves as an important site for imperial wor...
View shrine →Miyake Shrine
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Miyake Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to local protective deities. The shrine serves as an impo...
View shrine →Miyake Shrine Main Hall
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Miyake Shrine is a Shinto shrine whose main hall (honden) serves as the central worship structure ho...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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