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
Ototsurugi Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
OtotsurugiLocated in the city of Katsuragi, Wakayama Prefecture is not correct. It should be found in Ishikawa...
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Ototsurugi Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
Ōtsūrugi-gamiOtotsurugi Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kasugayama-cho, Kamikita Ward, Mat...
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Otowa Inari
Shiga
OinagisanOtowa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ryuhaku, Seno-machi, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. Dedi...
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Otoyo Shrine
Shiga
Ame-no-Minakuchi-no-Kami, Ame-no-Himatsuboki-no-KamiOtoyo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Omi, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of the ka...
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Otsubou Shrine
Miyazaki
A Shinto shrine located in Miyazaki Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religio...
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奈義町, 岡山県
nullOuji Gongen Shrine, located in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, is one of the oldest shrines in Japan dedicat...
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Oushu Hatchome Tenmangu Shrine
Fukushima
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenmangu shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified spirit of...
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Outer Hall of Worship
Shiga
The Outer Hall of Worship is a historic Shinto shrine located in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefectur...
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Ouyada Shrine
Ishikawa
Located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Ouyada Shrine is a Shinto shrine that has been...
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Owaki Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiOwaki Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun g...
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Owari Sansha
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Owari Sansha refers to the three most important Shinto shrines in the former Owari Province, now par...
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Owase-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, Owase-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Owatari Shrine
Nara
A Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, distinguished by its name which references the concept o...
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Ōyabu Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari ŌkamiŌyabu Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kanagawa, dedicated to the kami of fertility and pr...
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Oyama Afuri Shrine
Fukushima
Oyamatsumi no MikotoOyama Afuri Shrine is a mountain shrine dedicated to the deity of mountains and sea. The name 'Afuri...
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Oyama Gion Shrine
Shimane
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Japan's scenic Shimane Prefecture, Oyama Gion Shrine is a tranquil oasis ded...
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Oyama jinja
Nagano
OyamatsumiLocated in the scenic town of Matsumoto, Oyama Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of Mo...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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