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
Saba Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor OjinSaba Shrine is a historic Hachiman shrine located in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The shrine is dedic...
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Sabai Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, known for its local spiritual significance and connecti...
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Sada Shrine
Osaka
Kokan'inu-gamiSada Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Osaka, dedicated to the worship of the kami Kokan'inu-gami...
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Sadahiro Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Sadahiro DaimyojinA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sadahiro Daimyojin, likely honoring a deified hi...
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Sadayama Inari Shrine
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Inari OkamiSadayama Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice, fertility, and...
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Sae Shrine
Kumamoto
Sae no KamiA shrine dedicated to Sae no Kami, protective deities associated with boundaries, crossroads, and wa...
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Saga Kojin-sha Shrine
Fukuoka
Susanoo-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Saga City, Saga Kojin-sha Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Saga-jinja Shrine
Fukuoka
MikotoLocated in the heart of Dazaifu, Saga-jinja Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, dat...
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Saganaka Shrine
Shiga
Inari OkamiSaganaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, and is dedicat...
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Sagara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sagara clan ancestors and HachimanA shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the Sagara clan, the feudal lords who ruled the Hitoyos...
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Saginomiya Hachiman Jinjya
Osaka
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the heart of Osaka, Saginomiya Hachiman Jinjya Shrine is dedicated to the deity Hachiman...
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Saginomori Shrine
Shiga
nullSaginomori Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. The shrine is dedicated to...
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Sagisu Shrine
Nara
HachimanSagisu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the deity of war...
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Sahimeyama Shrine
Shimane
IzanagiSahimeyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. The shrine is dedicated...
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Sahogawa Tenmangu Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenmangu shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, located along the Sahogawa River in Nara. Like...
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Sai Shrine
Nara
Water deity and healing kamiSai Shrine is located within the sacred precincts of Omiwa Shrine in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture. This...
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Sai Shrine
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Sarutahiko no Mikoto and Amenouzume no MikotoSai Shrine is a protective Shinto shrine dedicated to road and boundary deities, traditionally servi...
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Sai Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
TsukiyomiLocated in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, Sai Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice and f...
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Sai-no-kami Shrine
広島市, 広島県
Sai-no-kamiSai-no-kami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Hiroshima City, dedicated to the god S...
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Saigawa Shrine
Nagano
nullSaigawa Shrine, located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami...
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Saiki Shrine
Ibaraki
Saiki Shrine, located in the town of Daigo within the city of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shin...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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