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
Ōmaki Inari Shrine
Shimane
Ōmaki Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Ōmaki, Shimane Prefecture. The shrine i...
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Oman Inari-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiOman Inari-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Eniwa, Chiba Prefecture, and is fa...
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Omata Sansha
Nagano
Hachiman ŌkamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Omata Sansha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Omi Jinja
飯田市, 長野県
Mikage no KamiLocated in the city of Iida, Nagano Prefecture, Omi Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the...
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Omi Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of worship an...
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Omi Shrine
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Omi Shrine is a Shinto shrine that takes its name from the ancient Omi region, reflecting the histor...
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Omiashi Shrine
Nara
Emperor JimmuOmiashi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, closely associated with Emperor Jim...
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Ōmichi Inari Jinja
Nagano
Inari ŌkamiŌmichi Inari Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the wo...
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Omine Hakuo Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to mountain worship and local spiritual tradi...
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Omine Shrine
Nara
Zaou GongenOmine Shrine is located in the sacred Omine mountain range of Nara Prefecture, serving as an importa...
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Omitama Shrine
Gifu
Spirits of the deceasedOmitama Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the veneration of omitama, the spi...
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Omiwa Shrine
Gifu
Okuninushi no MikotoOmiwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, an important deity associated wit...
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Omiya Hachimangu
Nagano
HachimanLocated in Saitama Prefecture, Omiya Hachimangu is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines. Dedica...
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Omiya Jinja
Ishikawa
Hachiman OkamiOmiya Jinja, located in the Ishikawa prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of learning...
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Omiya Jinja
Nagano
Located in Saitama Prefecture, not Nagano, Omiya Jinja is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan....
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Omiya Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Kamo, Shizuoka Prefecture, Omiya Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and m...
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Omiya Suwa Jinja
飯田市, 長野県
Suwa no KamiOmiya Suwa Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Iida, Nagano Prefecture, which was origin...
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Omizu Shrine
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Water deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to water deities, reflecting the fundamental importance of water in Japane...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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