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
Miyoshi-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
MiyoshiMiyoshi-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the s...
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Miyoshino Shrine
川越市, 埼玉県
nullMiyoshino Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, and is one of the oldest...
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Mizu Shrine
Kanagawa
Water deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to water deities, reflecting Japan's deep reverence for natural water sour...
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Mizugami Shrine
Yamaguchi
Water deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to water deities, reflecting the vital importance of water in Japanese agr...
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Mizuhime Daimyojin Shrine
Nara
Mizuhime no Mikoto (water goddess)A shrine dedicated to Mizuhime no Mikoto, a Shinto water deity. The name 'Mizuhime Daimyojin' transl...
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Mizukagami Tenjin Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneMizukagami Tenjin Shrine is a Tenjin shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, t...
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Mizukami Shrine
Gifu
Water deityMizukami Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to water deities. The shrine's name...
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Mizukamifunayama Shrine
Nagano
KatsurahimeLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Mizukamifunayama Shrine is a serene Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Mizunaga Daimyojin Shrine
Nara
Mizunaga Daimyojin (water deity)A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Mizunaga Daimyojin, a water deity. The name suggests...
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Mizuno no Atago-Sama
Nagano
AtagoMizuno no Atago-Sama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Fujikawa, Nagano Prefecture. T...
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Mizunuma Shrine
Miyazaki
A Shinto shrine located in Miyazaki Prefecture, with a name meaning 'water marsh' that suggests hist...
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Mizushima Isobe Shrine
Niigata
Isobe no OkamiLocated in the city of Sanju, Niigata Prefecture, Mizushima Isobe Shrine is a small but historic Shi...
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Mizutama Inari Daimyojin Shrine
Nara
Inari OkamiMizutama Inari Daimyojin is a local Inari shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prospe...
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Mochio Shrine
町田市, 東京都
InariMochio Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Takaoka, known as the 'Place of Wise and Noble Mind'. De...
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Mochioka Shrine
Miyazaki
Emperor OjinMochioka Shrine is located on Mount Mochioka in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, famous for its spec...
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Mofuku Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
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Mogi Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari OkamiMogi Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperi...
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Moire Shrine
余市町, 北海道
Moire Shrine, located in the rural town of Raisetsu in northern Japan's Hokkaido prefecture, is a le...
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Mokushi Hachiman Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
HachimanMokushi Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kinutsu City, Chiba Prefecture. Dedicated to t...
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Momotaro Shrine
Ishikawa
Sakonaka TametomoMomotaro Shrine, located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the legen...
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Mononobe Shrine
Gifu
Nigihayahi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Nigihayahi-no-Mikoto, the legendary ancestor deity of the Mononobe clan...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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