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
Uechi Hachimangu Shrine
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Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionUechi Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deities....
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Ueda Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Ueda Hachiman Shrine is a local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor...
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Uematsu Hachiman Shrine
Yamaguchi
Hachiman, god of war and divine protection View shrine →
Ueno Tenmangu Otabisho
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneUeno Tenmangu Otabisho is a temporary resting place or subsidiary shrine associated with Ueno Tenman...
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Ueno Tenmangu Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneUeno Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified...
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Ueno Tōshō-gū Shrine
Ibaraki
TokugawaUeno Tōshō-gū Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Tokugawa Ietsugu, the thi...
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Uenohara Tenjin Shrine
館山市, 千葉県
TenjiUenohara Tenjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tsukuda Ward, Chiba City, but according to reco...
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Uenomuro-Yasaka Shrine
Ibaraki
nullUenomuro-Yasaka Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deities o...
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Uenoyamanokami
Nagano
nullUenoyamanokami Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to...
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Uesugi Shrine
Yamagata
KosunomaruUesugi Shrine, located in Yamagata Prefecture, is dedicated to the deified spirits of the Uesugi cla...
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Uga Shrine
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UgajinUga Shrine is dedicated to Ugajin, a syncretic deity combining elements of both Shinto and Buddhist...
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Uga Shrine
Nagano
HachimanUga Shrine, located in the Japanese Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the d...
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Ugaryū Shrine
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Ugajin (serpent deity of water and fertility)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Ugajin, a syncretic deity combining serpent and dragon symbolism associ...
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Ugata Shrine
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Ugajin, agricultural and prosperity deityA shrine dedicated to Ugajin, a syncretic deity combining elements of Buddhist and Shinto traditions...
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Uhashi Jinja Shrine
小松市, 石川県
Hachiman, SusanooUhashi Jinja Shrine, located in Okita-cho, Matsukaze-machi, in the city of Kamikawa, is a Shinto shr...
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Uji Shrine
Shimane
nullUji Shrine, located in the town of Yudai, Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to a revered kami of rice...
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Uji Shrine
Shiga
Amaterasu, Susanoo, TakamagaharabishamonUji Shrine is one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in Japan, dedicated to the sun goddess Amate...
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Uji Shrine
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Prince Uji no WakiiratsukoUji Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, dedicated to Prince Uji no...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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