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
Ryu Shrine
Kumamoto
Dragon deity (Ryūjin)A Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the deep connection b...
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Ryu-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Ryu-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iwaki, Ibaraki Prefecture, and is one of...
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Ryugu Shrine
Shizuoka
RyujinRyugu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated to the water spirit Ryujin...
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Ryugu Shrine
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Ryujin (Dragon King of the Sea)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryujin, the dragon deity of the sea from Japanese mythology. Ryugu shri...
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Ryugu Shrine
Kagoshima
Toyotama-himeRyugu Shrine is dedicated to the dragon palace mythology of Japanese folklore, particularly associat...
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Ryuguchi Mei Shrine
Kanagawa
nullRyuguchi Mei Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to Ryoguchi-no-...
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Ryuike Shrine
Nara
Dragon deity or water kamiRyuike Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, whose name literally means 'Dragon Pond...
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Ryuja Shrine
Ibaraki
RyujinRyuja Shrine, located in the town of Tomamae in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Ryujin Shrine
Kumamoto
Ryujin (Dragon King deity)A Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ryujin, the dragon deity of the sea and water. D...
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Ryujo Shrine
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Dragon kami or local protective deitiesRyujo Shrine is a Shinto shrine whose name translates to 'Dragon Castle Shrine,' suggesting a connec...
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Ryuketsu Shrine
Nara
Dragon deity of Mount YoshinoA mystical shrine located on Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, renowned for its association with dra...
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Ryuko Shrine
Kanagawa
Epidemic prevention deitiesA local shrine dedicated to protection against epidemics and diseases, reflecting the historical imp...
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Ryumitsu Fudosan
Chiba
RyujinRyumitsu Fudosan is a Shinto shrine located in Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of water and...
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Ryuo Shrine
Yamaguchi
Ryujin (Dragon King deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryujin, the dragon king deity associated with water, rain, and sea. Dra...
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Ryuo Shrine
Miyazaki
Dragon King deityA Shinto shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to Ryujin, the dragon king deity of water and sea....
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Ryūō Shrine
Shiga
RyūōLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Ryūō Shrine is dedicated to the dragon god Ryūō,...
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Ryuoh Shrine
Nara
Dragon King deityA local shrine dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the widespread Japanese folk belief in dragon...
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Ryuso Shrine
伊豆市, 静岡県
RyujinRyuso Shrine, located in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryujin, the...
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Ryuso Shrine
伊豆市, 静岡県
RyujinRyuso Shrine, located in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of t...
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Ryusui Shrine
Kochi
Dragon water deityA local shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to water and dragon deities. The name Ryusui literally...
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Ryuto shrine
Gunma
RyutoriRyuto Shrine, located in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, is dedicated to Ryutori, a local kami be...
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Ryuzo Daigongen
Kanagawa
Dragon deityA gongen shrine dedicated to a dragon deity, reflecting the syncretic traditions that blend Shinto a...
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Ryuzo Shrine
Kanagawa
Dragon deity (Ryujin)A Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the traditional Japan...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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