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
Wakamiya Shrine
Kagoshima
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to young or subsidiary kami. Li...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kagoshima
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture that serves as a local spiritual center f...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kagoshima
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture. The name 'Wakamiya' meaning 'young shrin...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kagoshima
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to young or subsidiary kami. Li...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to young deities or child gods, following the traditio...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kanagawa
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture. The name 'Wakamiya' literally means 'youn...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Saga
Susanoo-no-MikotoWakamiya Shrine, located in Saga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of wisdom and f...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Saga
AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Wakamiya Shrine is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines and a f...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Saga
TakemikazuchiLocated in the heart of Nara Park, Wakamiya Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the worship...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kanagawa
Wakamiya Shrine, located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of the most important Shinto shrin...
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Wakamiya Tenman Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sugawara no Michizane and HachimanA dual-dedication shrine combining the worship of Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and pat...
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Wakamiya-Hachiman Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
HachimanLocated in the scenic city of Katsuragi, Wakamiya-Hachiman Jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site ded...
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Wakamiya-jinja
南丹市, 京都府
Amaterasu ŌmikamiWakamiya-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto, dedicated to the kami Amaterasu Ōmi...
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Wakamiyasha
姫路市, 兵庫県
Susanoo-no-MikotoWakamiyasha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated to...
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Wakanae Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to agricultural prosperity and the nurturing of y...
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Wakasa shrine
Hokkaido
Wakasa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Wakasa, Hokkaido. The shrine was originally built in the...
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Wakaura Tenmangu Shrine
Wakayama
Sugawara no MichizaneA prominent Tenmangu shrine located in the scenic Wakaura Bay area of Wakayama City, dedicated to th...
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Wakayama Prefecture Gokoku Shrine
Hyogo
Gokoku-sanLocated in Hyogo Prefecture, the Wakayama Prefecture Gokoku Shrine was originally built to protect t...
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Wake Shrine
—
Wake no Kiyomaro and Wake no HiroyoWake Shrine is dedicated to the Wake clan members who served as loyal retainers and scholars during...
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Wakidenomiya
Shiga
OtohimeLocated in the town of Katsuyama, Wakidenomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Ot...
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Wakinosawahachimangu Shrine
Aomori
HachimanWakinosawahachimangu Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god H...
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Wako-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
nullLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Wako-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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