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
Samichou Shrine
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Hondawake no Mikoto (Emperor Ojin)Samichou Shrine is a local Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deit...
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Samugawa jinja Shrine
Chiba
HoteiSamugawa-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. The shr...
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Samuhara-jinja Shrine
Osaka
Samuhara-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Osaka Prefecture, dedicated to the protection of...
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Samukawa Shrine
Kanagawa
Samukawa DaijinSamukawa Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture known for its role in protecting...
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San-jinjya Shrine
Shizuoka
Yamatsumi-no-kamiSan-jinjya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The shrine...
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Sanada Jinja
Nagano
Sanada no OkamiLocated in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Sanada Jinja Shrine is dedicated to the enshrined dei...
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Sanada Shrine
Kanagawa
A shrine dedicated to members of the Sanada clan, particularly honoring the legendary warrior Sanada...
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Sanai Shrine
Shizuoka
SanaiSanai Shrine is a small but historic Shinto shrine located in the city of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefect...
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Sanbo Daikojin Shrine
Gifu
Sanbo Kojin (Three Treasures Rough Deity)A shrine dedicated to Sanbo Kojin, a fierce protective deity in Japanese folk religion who guards th...
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Sanbongiinari Shrine
Aomori
InariSanbongiinari Shrine, located in the heart of Aomori Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Sangan Rokusoku Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari Okami (Three-Eyed, Six-Legged manifestation)A unique Inari shrine dedicated to a rare three-eyed, six-legged manifestation of Inari Okami, the S...
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Sangu Shrine
Shizuoka
Suguwara no HojoSangu Shrine, located in the town of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Sanguu Jinja
高松市, Kagawa
Sanguu no KamiSanguu Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the Sanguu no...
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SANJA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Otake, Okuninushi, Amatsukami Okami Hara-no-MatsubishinoLocated in the heart of Matsumae Town, Hokkaido, Sanja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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SANJA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Futsunami-no-kami, Takamagahara-hiko, FujinokamiSANJA Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Matsusaka-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. The shrine is dedicated t...
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Sanjingu Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture whose name literally means 'Three Deities Shrine,' suggesting...
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Sanjinja
大和市, 神奈川県
Located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Shinto Sanjinja Shrine is a serene oasis nestle...
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Sanjubanshin Shrine
Gifu
Thirty Guardian DeitiesA Shinto shrine dedicated to the Thirty Guardian Deities (Sanjūbanshin), protective kami associated...
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Sankai Onsen Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, associated with hot spring waters as indicated...
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Sankeien Tenmangu Shrine
Kanagawa
MichizaneSankeien Tenmangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the deity S...
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Sanko Inari Shrine
Gifu
Ukanomitama-no-kamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the harvest deity and prosperity. Like other In...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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