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
Wakamiya Hachiman-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
HachimanLocated in the scenic city of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Wakamiya Hachiman-jinja Shrine is one of...
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YOSHINO HACHIMAN shrine
福島町, 北海道
Yoshino Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukushima-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicated to t...
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YOSHINO HACHIMAN shrine
福島町, 北海道
Yoshino Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukushima-cho, Hokkaido's northernmost city of...
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YOSHIOKA HACHIMAN shrine
福島町, 北海道
Hachiman ŌkamiYoshika Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yoshikaa, Hokkaido, Japan. The shrine is dedic...
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YOSHIOKA HACHIMAN shrine
福島町, 北海道
HachimanYoshioka Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukushima Town, Hokkaido, Japan. The shrine i...
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Yu Jinja Shrine
Niigata
nullYu Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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