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
Sumiyoshi Jinja
Chiba
SusanooSumiyoshi Jinja, located in Chiba Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto shrin...
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Sumiyoshi Jinja
Miyagi
Amaterasu, Osonae no Okami, Taka-mori Okami, HikoboshiLocated in the town of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Sumiyoshi Jinja shrine
Niigata
InariLocated in the city of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
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Sumiyoshi Jinjashrine
Niigata
SusanooLocated in the coastal town of Minami-Shirotori in Niigata Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Jinja Shrine is one...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Fukuoka
SusanooLocated in the heart of Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and m...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Shimane
SusanooLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and mos...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Shizuoka
Located in the city of Ise, Shizuoka Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Okinawa
Susanoo, AmaterasuLocated on the southernmost part of Japan, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in t...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Fukushima
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, traditionally r...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kagoshima
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities who are revered...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Gifu
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the three sea deities known as Sumiyoshi Sanjin....
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi sea deities. These shrines t...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, ancient kami of...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi kami)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi kami, ancient Shinto deities...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (Three Sumiyoshi Kami)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi kami, ancient Shinto deities...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi sea deities who are revered...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Gifu
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine dedicated to the three sea deities known collectively as Sumiyoshi Sanjin. These...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Gifu
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, traditionally associ...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Gifu
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, traditionally revere...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Hyogo
SusanooLocated on the western shore of the Akashi Strait, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shinto...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
海老名市, 神奈川県
Sugawara no MichizaneLocated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Shrine is the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan and a sacred s...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)Sumiyoshi Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, ancient Shinto kam...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kanagawa
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine dedicated to the three sea deities known as Sumiyoshi Sanjin, who are revered as...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kanagawa
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine dedicated to the three sea deities known collectively as Sumiyoshi Sanjin. These...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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