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
Unai Shrine
Shizuoka
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Unai Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god...
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Uneme Nyotai Shrine
Ibaraki
Uneme NyotaiUneme Nyotai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to the enshrined kam...
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Uneme Shrine
Fukushima
A Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the memory of an uneme (court lady) from ancien...
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University Shrine
Chiba
Okuninushi-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Saku, a district within Chiba Prefecture, the University Shrine is a tranqui...
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Unjodeai Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
UnjiLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Unjodeai Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedic...
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Unknown Shrine
Fukuoka
Located in the heart of Fukuoka Prefecture, Unknown Shrine is a Shinto site that preserves the tradi...
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Unokamimimitoshi Shrine
Gifu
Unokamimimitoshi no MikotoA local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Unokamimimitoshi no Mikoto, a deity associated...
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Uogashi Sui-jinja Shrine
Chiba
Uogashi Sui-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the town of Toge, Chiba Prefecture. Dedicated...
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Uomachi Inari Shrine
Shizuoka
Inari OkamiUomachi Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the kami of rice and fertility. Lo...
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Urayasu Shrine
Wakayama
A Shinto shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to ensuring safe voyages and maritime prosp...
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Urayasu Shrine
Wakayama
A Shinto shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to ensuring peace and tranquility in the lo...
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Urayasu Shrine
Wakayama
Deities of peace and safetyUrayasu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture, dedicated to deities associated wi...
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Urufushina Shrine
Nara
A historic Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, known for its ancient origins and connection to...
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Urushimiya Jinja Shrine
Niigata
OtohimeUrushimiya Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Nagaoka city of Niigata Prefecture, dedica...
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Usa Hachimansha
大鹿村, 下伊那郡
Hachiman OkamiUsa Hachimansha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman Okami, the god of war and patron dei...
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Usa Shrine
Fukuoka
Amaterasu and SusanooLocated in the city of Fukuoka, Usa Shrine is one of Japan's most ancient Shinto shrines, with a his...
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Ushiine-fumoto Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine located in the Ushiine area of Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to the rice and...
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Ushijima Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deiti...
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Ushijima Shrine
Ibaraki
HachimanUshijima Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Hachi...
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Ushikubo Hachiman Shrine
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Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionUshikubo Hachiman Shrine is a local Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associ...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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