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
Sanko Inari Shrine
Chiba
Inari OkamiSanko Inari Shrine, located in Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of rice a...
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Sanko Shrine
Gifu
Fox deities and Inari OkamiSanko Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to fox deities. The name 'Sanko' m...
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Sanko-Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
InariSanko-Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Tomobe, Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated t...
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Sanmen Ryuo Daigongen Shrine
Kochi
Three-faced Dragon KingA shrine dedicated to the Three-faced Dragon King, a powerful deity associated with water, rain, and...
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Sanmiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture. The name 'Sanmiya' meaning 'third shrine' suggests i...
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Sanno Dainichi Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kami and Dainichi NyoraiA Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture that combines traditional Sanno worship with Buddhist element...
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Sanno Hie Shire
鶴岡市, 山形県
Located in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Sanno Hie Shrine is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Sannō Jinja
Miyagi
SannōSannō Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the mount...
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Sanno Jinja Shrine
Shimane
Sanno, Fujin, RaijinSanno Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Hikeshi town of Hikawa district, Shimane Prefec...
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Sanno Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiSanno Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, following the Sann...
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Sanno Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Sanno shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, representing the syncretic traditio...
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Sanno Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Sanno shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, reflecting the syncretic tradition...
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Sanno Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiSanno Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, following the Sann...
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Sanno Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-kamiSanno Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, part of the Hie sh...
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Sanno Shrine
Gifu
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Sanno shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami. Sanno shrines ar...
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Sanno-jinja Shrine
Kyoto
SannoSanno-jinja Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines. De...
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Sannohe Daijingu
Aomori
SusanooLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Sannohe Daijingu Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most historic Shi...
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Sannomiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to regional kami. The name 'Sannomiya' indica...
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Sano Hachiman Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)Sano Hachiman Shrine is a local Hachiman shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the deified Empe...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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