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
Kora Hachimangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deitie...
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Koriyama Hachiman Shrine
Kumamoto
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Koriyama Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, dedicated to the deifi...
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Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-MikotoKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Mikoto, the dei...
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Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
ŌmononushiKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi, the deity of pros...
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Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi no KamiKotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi no Kami, the deity...
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Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA Kotohira shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-kami, the protective deity of se...
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Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-kamiA Kotohira shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deity of seafaring, prosperity, and good f...
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Kotohira Shrine
Kumamoto
Ōmononushi-no-KamiKotohira Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture is dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Kami and follows the Kotohira t...
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Kotohira-gu Shrine
Kumamoto
Okuninushi-no-mikotoA Kotohira shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi-no-mikoto, the deity of nation-buil...
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Kumamoto Daijingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiKumamoto Daijingu is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture that serves as a local center for worshi...
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Kumano Shrine
Kumamoto
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines foun...
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Kumano Shrine
Kumamoto
Kumano GongenA Kumano shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the Kumano deities, part of the widespread netwo...
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Kumano Shrine
Kumamoto
Kumano Gongen (Kumano deities)A Kumano shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the Kumano deities, part of the widespread netwo...
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Kumano Shrine
Kumamoto
Kumano Gongen deitiesA Kumano shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines thro...
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Kusaki Hachiman Shrine
Kumamoto
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)A Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associate...
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Kyusenbu Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Kyusenbu DaimyojinA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Kyusenbu Daimyojin, a regional deity associated...
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Matsui Shrine
Kumamoto
Hachiman, spirit of the Matsui clanA shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman and associated with the historical Matsui clan...
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Matsuo Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui no KamiMatsuo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, a deity assoc...
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Matsuo Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui-no-kamiMatsuo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the deity of...
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Matsuzaki Hachimangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Emperor OjinA Hachiman shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin, the deified 15th emperor of Japa...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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