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
Omizu Shrine
Fukushima
Water deityA Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to water deities, reflecting the important role of...
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Omoikane Shrine
Kanagawa
Omoikane-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Omoikane-no-Mikoto, the deity of wisdom and intelligence in Japanese my...
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Ōmori-jinja
南丹市, 京都府
Inari OkamiŌmori-jinja Shrine, located in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to various kami i...
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Omori-jinja Shrine
Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Omori-jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto temple dedicated to the gods o...
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Omoto Jinja shrine
Shimane
Mika no kamiOmoto Jinja shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, but it was originally from Sh...
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Omoto Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture that serves the local community as a place of worship an...
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Omoto Shrine
Kochi
Omoto Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture that serves as an important local spirit...
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Omoto Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving as a spiritual center for the local community w...
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Omuro Katori Shrine
Ibaraki
The Sea God (Amatsukami), Fertility Goddess (Yamato-no-kagami)Located in the town of Kamakura, Omuro Katori Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shint...
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Onabake-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
OnabakeOnabake-jinja Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of the same nam...
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Onai Neiko Shrine
Nara
Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-MikotoA historic Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto, son of the sun...
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Onakayama Shrine
七飯町, 北海道
nullOnakayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the rural town of Shibetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicate...
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Onamuchi Shrine
Kagoshima
Onamuchi-no-mikoto (Okuninushi)A Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Onamuchi-no-mikoto, an alternative name for the...
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Ōnawa Inari Shrine
函館市, 北海道
Inari OkamiŌnawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hakodate City, northern Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture...
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Onbin-sama
Shizuoka
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Onbin-sama Shrine is a revered Shinto...
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Onigajo Maegu
Nagano
OnigajoLocated in the Japanese Alps, Onigajo Maegu Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity of the same name...
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Onimaru Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, known by its distinctive name which incorporates th...
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Oniyanagi Hakusan Shrine
小田原市, 神奈川県
HachimanOniyanagi Hakusan Shrine, located in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Ono Benzaiten Shrine
Kanagawa
Benzaiten (goddess of water, music, and eloquence)A shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the Buddhist goddess who was syncretized into Shinto worship. Benza...
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Ono Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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