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
Nakakoto Shrine
Wakayama
Kumano deitiesA Shinto shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture, associated with the Kumano faith tradition that has...
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Nakamachi Hikawa-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
InariNakamachi Hikawa-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the town of Kamakura, Ibaraki Prefecture...
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Tokyo
InariNakamoto Ichi Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice, fertility, and prosperit...
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Nakamura Ebisu Shrine
Miyazaki
EbisuA local Ebisu shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to the deity of commerce, fishing, and good fo...
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Nakamura Hachimangu Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)Nakamura Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Oji...
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Nakamura Hachimansha
Nagano
HachimanLocated in the picturesque town of Kamikoma, Nagano Prefecture, Nakamura Hachimansha Shrine is a sac...
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Nakamura Suwasha
Nagano
SuwashiNakamura Suwasha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated t...
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Nakamura Tenjin Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
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Nakamuratenso Shrine
Chiba
Tenno and Ototoma-yasume-no-kamiNakamuratenso Shrine, located in the heart of Chiba Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Nakano hashi kuroki hachidai ryūjin'
函館市, 北海道
RyūjinLocated in Otaru, Hokkaido, Nakano Hashi Kuroki Hachidai Ryōjin' Shrine is dedicated to the Eight Gr...
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Nakanoshima Inari Shrine
Tokyo
InariNakanoshima Inari Shrine, located in the heart of Tokyo, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the g...
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Nakao Shinmeisha
Nagano
Nakao Shinmei-sha is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Nishida, Nagano Prefecture. The shrine i...
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Nakaragi Shrine
Shiga
NakatsukasaNakaragi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of t...
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Nakashibetsu Shrine
Hokkaido
TsunokamiNakashibetsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, and is dedicated to...
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Nakashima Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
HachimanNakashima Hachiman Shrine is a local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the Shinto war...
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Nakasu Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionNakasu Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin...
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Nakayama Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiNakayama Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the su...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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