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
Shoyama Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding...
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Shozoku Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Shozoku Inari Shrine is a small yet significant...
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Shrine of Heaven
Gunma
Located in the city of Maebashi, Shrine of Heaven is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the celestial deit...
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Shrine of Utin-uyaganashi
Okinawa
Utin-uyaganashiThe Shrine of Utin-uyaganashi is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Okinawa, Japan. As one of t...
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Shugyoku Inari Shrine
Shimane
Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Shugyoku Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Shukuin Tongu Shrine
Osaka
Located in the Osakacities, Shukuin Tongu Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the wo...
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Shukunoten Shrine
Saitama
Located in the heart of Saitama, Shukunoten Shrine is a serene and tranquil oasis amidst the bustlin...
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Shusse Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari Okami (deity of rice, sake, and prosperity)Shusse Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to success and advance...
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Shusse Inari Shrine
Tochigi
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Utsunomiya, Shusse Inari Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the ri...
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Shusse Inari Shrine
Gunma
InariLocated in the scenic town of Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Shusse Inari Shrine is a sacred site dedic...
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Shuttatsu Oji Site
Wakayama
A historic Oji shrine site along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes in Wakayama Prefecture. This was...
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Sō no Miagata Niimasu shrine
Shiga
Sō no Miagata Niimasu shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the town of Mitose, Shiga Prefec...
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Soba Jinja
Miyagi
InariLocated in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Soba Jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Soba Shrine
Gifu
Ancestral deities and local protective spiritsA local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to ancestral worship and community protection. Th...
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Sobataka Shrine
Ibaraki
SobatakaSobataka Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Kaiho in Ibaraki Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
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Sōbudai Shrine
Kanagawa
RyūjinLocated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sōbudai Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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