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
Shirahata Shrine
Chiba
HachimanLocated in the heart of Chiba Prefecture, Shirahata Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Shirahige Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Sarutahiko no OkamiA Shirahige shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, the deity of guidance an...
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Shirahige Jinja
Ibaraki
Tsukiyomi-no-KamiLocated in the town of Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, Shirahige Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Shirahige Shrine
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Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidance, protection,...
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Shirahige Shrine
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Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidance, protection,...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidan...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidan...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a prominent kami in Shinto mythology known as...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidance, roads, and s...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, the Shinto deity associated with guidance, cro...
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Shirahige Shrine
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Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidance, leadership,...
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Shirahige Shrine
Nara
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidance, protection,...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidan...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a prominent kami in Shinto mythology known as...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a prominent...
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Shirahige Shrine
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Shirahige no KamiLocated in the heart of Fukuoka, Shirahige Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the god of...
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Shirahige Shrine
Shiga
OkuninushiLocated in the city of Omi, Lake Biwa's scenic shores, Shirahige Shrine is a historic Shinto site th...
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Shirahige Shrine
Saitama
ShirahigeLocated in the heart of Saitama, Shirahige Shrine is dedicated to the kami (deity) Shirahige, a lege...
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Shiraishi Shrine
Kagoshima
Shiraishi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, taking its name from the Japane...
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Shiraishiyama Tenmangu Shrine
Fukushima
Sugawara no MichizaneShiraishiyama Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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