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 Shrine
Kanagawa
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi kami, ancient Shinto deit...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
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Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three kami of the sea)Sumiyoshi Shrine is dedicated to the Sumiyoshi Sanjin, three powerful sea deities who are among Japa...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
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Sumiyoshi Sanjin - three sea deities of safe voyage and purificationSumiyoshi shrines are dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, powerful kami of the sea who protect...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
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Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)Sumiyoshi Shrine is dedicated to the Sumiyoshi Sanjin, three powerful sea deities who protect sailor...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi sea deities. Part of the...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi sea deities who protect...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, who are revered...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Nara
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, traditionally revere...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Nara
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A subsidiary shrine (massha) dedicated to the Sumiyoshi deities, the three kami of the sea who are r...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Saitama
Located in the heart of Japan, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the country,...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Ishikawa
Located in the coastal city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of Japan's old...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine (Shioji, Miyazaki)
Miyazaki
Sumiyoshi Sanjin - three sea deities of purification and safe voyagesA Sumiyoshi shrine located in the Shioji area of Miyazaki City, dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi dei...
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Sumiyoshi Taisha
大阪市, 大阪府
SusanooSumiyoshi Taisha is one of Japan's oldest and most sacred Shinto shrines, located in Osaka City. Ded...
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Sumiyoshi-jinja Shrine
Kyoto
FujinLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Sumiyoshi-jinja Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shin...
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Sumiyoshi-jinja Shrine
函館市, 北海道
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in Hokkaido's Oshima Island, Sumiyoshi-jinja Shrine is the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan, wi...
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Sumiyoshiōtomo Shrine
Shiga
ŌtomonokamiSumiyoshiōtomo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is dedicated...
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Sumoto Benzaiten Shrine
Kumamoto
Benzaiten (goddess of water, music, and eloquence)A shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the Buddhist-Shinto syncretic deity associated with water, music, e...
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Sunakubo Inari-Shrine
Saitama
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic town of Hikiyama, Saitama Prefecture, Sunakubo Inari-Shrine is a sacred site h...
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Sunomiya Jinja Shrine
Kanagawa
AmaterasuSunomiya Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The sh...
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Sunosaki-jinja Shrine
Chiba
OkuninushiSunosaki-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Katsurao, Chiba Prefecture. The shri...
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Suo Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hondawake no Mikoto)Suo Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, serving as an important regi...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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