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
Sumiyoshi Daimyojin Shrine
Kagoshima
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, who are revered...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kagoshima
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities who are revered...
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Suwa Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
Takeminakata-no-kamiA Suwa shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture that enshrines the deities of the main Suwa Taisha network. Li...
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Suwa Shrine
Kagoshima
Takeminakata-no-kamiA Suwa shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Takeminakata-no-kami. Suwa shri...
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Tabukawa Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religi...
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Taga Shrine
Kagoshima
Izanagi and IzanamiTaga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the creator deities Izanagi and...
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Takachiho Shrine
Kagoshima
Ninigi-no-Mikoto and related imperial deitiesTakachiho Shrine is dedicated to the legendary descent of Ninigi-no-Mikoto from the heavenly realm,...
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Takachiho Shrine Gozasho
Kagoshima
Amaterasu Omikami and associated imperial deitiesA sacred site associated with Takachiho Shrine, serving as a subsidiary location or temporary dwelli...
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Takeya Shrine
Kagoshima
A local Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surroundin...
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Taniyama Gokoku Shrine
Kagoshima
War dead and fallen soldiersTaniyama Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to honoring the spirits of those who died in mil...
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Tohashira Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religi...
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Toshinuki Shrine
Kagoshima
Local protective deitiesToshinuki Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture. The shrine serves as a sp...
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Tsukiyomi Shrine
Kagoshima
Tsukiyomi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto, the moon deity and one of the three noble children...
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Tsukiyomi Shrine
Kagoshima
Tsukiyomi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine dedicated to Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto, the moon deity in Japanese mythology. As one of th...
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Tsurugi Shrine
Kagoshima
Sword deities and protective spiritsA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to deities associated with swords and protection....
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Ukemochi Shrine
Kagoshima
Ukemochi-no-KamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Ukemochi-no-Kami, the goddess of food and sustenance in Japanese mythol...
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Ushiine-fumoto Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine located in the Ushiine area of Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to the rice and...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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