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
Sakihama Hachiman Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Sakihama Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified...
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Sakon Inari Shrine
Nagasaki
Inari OkamiSakon Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Nagasaki Prefecture dedicated to the fox deity Inari O...
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Sakura Hachiman Shrine
Oita
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)A Hachiman shrine located in Oita Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the Shinto deity...
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Sakura Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Hitachi-Odawara in Ibaraki Prefecture, Sakura Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple...
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Sakura Jinja
Nagano
Fujin RyujinSakura Jinja, located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Sakura Shrine
飯田市, 長野県
Sakura Shrine enshrines Fujimiyoshino no kami, a deity associated with prosperity and good fortune.Sakura Shrine, located in the city of Fujita, Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Sakura Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Sakura Shrine
Okayama
OkuninushiSakura Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and prosperity, Okuninushi, locat...
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Sakura Tenmangu Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and patro...
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Sakurada Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Sakurada Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin and assoc...
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Sakurada Shrine
Yamaguchi
A Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, named after the cherry blossoms (sakura) that likel...
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Sakurada-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Located in the heart of Chiba Prefecture, Sakurada-jinja Shrine is a serene oasis dedicated to the r...
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Sakuradasan Jinja
栗原市, 宮城県
Sakuradasan Jinja, located in Miyagi Prefecture's Kurihara City, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Sakurai Inari Shrine
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Inari OkamiSakurai Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine dedicated to the kami of rice, sake, agriculture, and p...
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Sakuramiya Shrine
Osaka
HachimanSakuramiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Osaka, dedicated to the god of sake and rice, Hachim...
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Sakurayama Fudōson
松川町, 長野県
Fudo MyoSakurayama Fudōson Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Matsumoto City, Nagano Pref...
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Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the picturesque town of Sasai, Ishikawa Prefecture, Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine is a histo...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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