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
Nakayashiki Tenjin Shrine
Kochi
Sugawara no MichizaneA local Tenjin shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar an...
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Nakazato no Fujizuka
Saitama
FujisamaNakazato no Fujizuka Shrine, located in Saitama Prefecture, is dedicated to Fujisan, the mountain go...
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Namba Yasaka Shrine
Osaka
Koshin'etsu-OkamiNamba Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Osaka's Namba district. Founded in 15...
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Nambu shrine
Iwate
HachimanNambu Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Hachiman, patro...
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Nami Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
NaminokajiLocated in the scenic town of Naniwa-cho, Okawa Prefecture, Nami Shrine is a revered Shinto site ded...
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Namia Jinja
Nagano
NamiaNaria Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. The shrine is de...
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Namiho Shrine
Shiga
Namiho Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of the sea and fishing. The shr...
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Namiki Inari-jinja Shrine
Kyoto
InariLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Namiki Inari-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess...
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Naminoue Shrine
那覇市, 沖縄県
Okarimya-kamiLocated on the scenic coast of Naminoue Bay in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Naminoue Shrine is one...
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Namiwake Jinja
Miyagi
Inari OkamiNamiwake Jinja, located in the picturesque town of Osuchi in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
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Namiyoke Inari Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiNamiyoke Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of Inari Okami, the kami of rice,...
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Namiyose Shrine
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Namiyose Shrine is a Shinto shrine whose name literally means 'wave gathering' or 'wave calling,' su...
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Nanae Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Inari OkamiNanae Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of Ina...
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Nanahiko Shrine
Saitama
Nanahiko, Ushinohi, Mino no MikotoLocated in the town of Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture, Nanahiko Shrine is dedicated to three kami: Nanahi...
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Nanakura-inari-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Nanakura-inari-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to the worsh...
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Nanakuri Shrine
飯田市, 長野県
FukutaraiNanakuri Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Dedica...
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Nanasha-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Nanasha-jinja Shrine is a small Shinto temple located in the town of Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture. De...
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Nanasho Shrine
Gifu
Nanasho Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name means 'Seven Places Shrine,' typical...
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Nanasho Shrine
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Nanasho Shrine, meaning 'Seven Places Shrine,' is a Shinto shrine that typically enshrines seven dif...
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Nanaura-benzaiten Shrine
Ibaraki
BenzaitenNanaura-benzaiten Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to Benzaiten, t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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