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
Okinoshima Ugamyojin
Chiba
Ugami-no-KamiLocated in Chiba Prefecture, Okinoshima Ugamyojin Shrine is one of the most sacred Shinto sites on t...
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Okubo Shrine
Kanagawa
Okubo Shrine, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice and p...
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Okuma Ryuo Shrine
Kagoshima
Dragon King deityA shrine dedicated to the Dragon King (Ryuo), reflecting the deep connection between Japanese Shinto...
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Okumiya Shrine
Yamanashi
HachimanOkumiya Shrine, located in the heart of Fuji Five Lakes region, is a serene Shinto oasis surrounded...
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Okumiya Shrine
Gunma
Inari ŌkamiOkumiya Shrine, located in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the wo...
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Okumiya Shrine
Shiga
OkumiyaOkumiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Katsuta, Shiga Prefecture. The shrine is de...
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Okuni-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Ōkuninushi no KamiLocated in the heart of Ibaraki Prefecture, Okuni-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Okuninushi Shrine
Kagoshima
Okuninushi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the great land deity know...
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Okuninushi Shrine
Kanagawa
Okuninushi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, one of the most important deities in Japanese myt...
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Okunoin
Saitama
Located in the Sakuragicho neighborhood of Sakura, Saitama Prefecture, Okunoin is one of Japan's mos...
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Okunoin
Fukuoka
nullLocated in Fukuoka, Okunoin Shrine is a historic Shinto site famous for its vast and intricate under...
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Ōkunoshima Shrine
Shimane
Ōkunoshima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on Ōkunoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea, within Shi...
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Okusawa Shrine
Tokyo
Mikoto-no-MikageLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Okusawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Mikoto-no-Mi...
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Okusha Shrine Office of Worship
Shiga
nullOkusha Shrine, located in the city of Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, is a sacred space dedicated to the...
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Okushinada Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)A local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deit...
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Okutsu-jinja Shrine
Nagano
Inari OkutsuOkutsu-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. Dedicate...
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Okuyama Atago Shrine
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Kagutsuchi-no-MikotoOkuyama Atago Shrine is a local Atago shrine dedicated to fire prevention and protection. Like other...
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Okuyashiroizutama Shrine
Tokushima
Yashiro IzutamaOkuyashiroizutama Shrine, located in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, is a sacred Shinto site...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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