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
Iwate
Yūgen-gamiLocated in the mountains of Iwate Prefecture, Yūgen-gama Shrine is dedicated to the kami of Mount Yū...
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Iwate
Located in the scenic prefecture of Iwate, Andō Gūjinsha is a Shinto shrine that honors the kami of...
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Iwate
Mizu-kamiLocated in the prefecture of Iwate, Water God Shrine (Mizukami-jinja) is a historic Shinto shrine de...
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Iwate
Zushi-no-kamiAkiba Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of autumn leaves...
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Iwate
HarushimaThe Sanbōgaharashinsha in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto kami of prosperity and good fo...
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Iwate
HachimanLocated in the scenic Tohoku region, Mutsu no Hachiman-gu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman,...
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Atago Shrine
Iwate
InariAtago Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai City, Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deit...
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Hitaka Jinja
Iwate
HachimanHitaka Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Matsue, Prefecture of Shimane, but it...
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Koshio Shrine
Iwate
Hachi no KojinLocated in the town of Hanasaki, Iwate Prefecture, Koshio Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine ded...
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Kumano Jinja
Iwate
Located in the heart of northern Japan, Kumano Jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the wo...
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Nambu shrine
Iwate
HachimanNambu Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Hachiman, patro...
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Nodenbo Shrine
Iwate
NodenaNodenbo Shrine, located in the scenic town of Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, is a historic Shinto tem...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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