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
Saiku Shrine
Gifu
Saiō spiritsA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the imperial princess who served as high priestess a...
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Saimei Shurin
Kyoto
Saimei Shurin is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the kami of the Saimei family and th...
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Saisei-gu Shrine
Kumamoto
Hokushin (North Star deity)Saisei-gu is a Myoken shrine dedicated to the worship of stellar deities, particularly the North Sta...
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Saitama-ken Gokoku Shrine
さいたま市, 埼玉県
Kamakura-gotenSaitama-ken Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, dedicated...
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Saiwai Inari-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, Saiwai Inari-jinja Shrine is a renowned Shinto sh...
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Sakabe Suwasha
Nagano
SuwashiSakabe Suwasha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, dedica...
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Sakada Hachiman Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
HachimanSakada Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kinzan, Sakada, in the city of Kinzan in Chiba...
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Sakae Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiSakae Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and prosperit...
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Sakaguchi Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
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Sakai Inari Jinja
Ibaraki
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture, the Sakai Inari Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Sakai Shrine
Niigata
nullSakai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Niigata City, dedicated to the kami of prosp...
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Sakaki-jinja Shrine
台東区, Ibaraki
SakakiSakaki-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to Saka...
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Sakamoto Hachimangu Shrine
Fukuoka
HachimanSakamoto Hachimangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, kn...
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Sakamoto Jinja
Miyagi
Susanoo-no-MikotoSakamoto Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the picturesque town of Sakamato, Miyagi Prefecture. Th...
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Sakamoto Suijin Shrine
Kumamoto
Water deityA local water deity shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the spiritual protection of water sou...
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Sakanoue-Hachiman Shrine
伊豆市, 静岡県
Hachiman ŌkamiSakanoue-Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated to t...
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Sakashita Jinja
Nagano
Yama-kamiSakashita Jinja, a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
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Sakate Kokusei Shrine
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Izanagi and IzanamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to the primordial deities Izanagi and Izanami, the divine couple who creat...
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Sakawa Shrine
小田原市, 神奈川県
Sakae-no-KamiSakawa Shrine, located in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami of...
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Saki Shrine
Kumamoto
Local protective deitiesSaki Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving as a spiritual center f...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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