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
Yahashira Jinja
Nagano
Yahashira Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to the wo...
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Yahashira Shrine
Shizuoka
RaijinLocated in the Fuji Five Lakes region of Shizuoka Prefecture, Yahashira Shrine is a historic Shinto...
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Yahashira Shrine
Shizuoka
YahashiraYahashira Shrine, located in the town of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Yahashirasha
Saitama
TenjinYahashirasha Shrine in Saitama Prefecture is dedicated to the deity of good luck and prosperity, wit...
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Yahata Shrine
Okayama
HachimanYahata Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Okayama Prefecture, dedicated to the god of war and agri...
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Yahiko Shrine
Niigata
Yamato no OkamiYahiko Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Yaishi Shrine
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A Shinto shrine whose name incorporates the characters for arrow (矢) and chair or seat (椅), sugges...
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Yaki Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving as a local spiritual center for the surround...
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Yaku-Jinja Shrine
Chiba
Yaku-Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Chiba prefecture, dedicated to the kami of wealt...
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Yakujin Shrine
Ibaraki
Yakujin OkamiYakujin Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of medicine a...
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Yakumo Jinja
Saitama
Located in the heart of Saitama Prefecture, Yakumo Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Yakumo Jinja
Tokyo
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Setagaya, Tokyo, Yakumo Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of cl...
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Yakumo Jinja
Miyagi
YakumoYakumo Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedicated to...
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Yakumo Jinja
Miyagi
TennyoYakumo Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedicated to the...
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Yakumo Jinja
Miyagi
Yakumo Jinja, located in the coastal town of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedic...
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Yakumo Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYakumo Shrine is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the Shinto deity of storms and the sea. The name 'Y...
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Yakumo Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
Susano-oLocated in Kinutsu City, Chiba Prefecture, Yakumo Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Yakumo Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
Yamatano-okamiLocated in Kinugasa, a district of Inusato-cho, in the city of Kinutsu, Chiba Prefecture, Yakumo Shr...
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Yakumo Shrine
館山市, 千葉県
Ō-no-mi-koYakumo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Mutsu City, Aichi Prefecture, known for its beautiful ga...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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