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
Ishizono-za Takumushitama Shrine
Nara
Takumushitama-no-mikotoAn ancient Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, known for its historical significance as one of...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoA local Itsukushima Shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA local Itsukushima Shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto and sea deitiesA branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three sister goddess...
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Kagamitama Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneKagamitama Shrine is a Tenman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deif...
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Kagamitsukuri Maki Shrine
Nara
Ishikoridome-no-mikotoA shrine dedicated to Ishikoridome-no-mikoto, the kami of mirror-making and metalworking crafts. Loc...
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Kagamitsukuri-niimasu Amaterasu Mitama Shrine
Nara
Amaterasu Mitama-no-KamiA historic shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Mitama-no-Kami, closely associated with...
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Kamotsuba Shrine
Nara
Tsumihayae-kotoshironushi-no-mikotoKamotsuba Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Gose, Nara Prefecture, considered one of the oldest...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Kasuga deitiesA Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the Kasuga kami, part of the widespread network of K...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesKasuga Shrine in Nara is dedicated to the Kasuga deities who serve as protective kami of the Fujiwar...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Kasuga deitiesA Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the Kasuga kami. While sharing the name with the fam...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesKasuga Shrine is one of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, famous for its thousands of stone and...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesKasuga Shrine in Nara is part of the renowned Kasuga Taisha shrine complex, one of Japan's most impo...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesKasuga Shrine in Nara is one of Japan's most significant Shinto shrines, famous for its thousands of...
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Kasuga Shrine
Nara
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and associated Kasuga deitiesOne of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, famous for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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