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
Yakumo Shrine
君津市, 千葉県
YakumoLocated in the Chiba prefecture, Yakumo Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of the same...
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Yakumo Shrine
Fukushima
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-jinja Shrine
Chiba
YakumoLocated in the town of Katsuta, Chiba Prefecture, Yakumo-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the god of thu...
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Yakumo-jinja Shrine
Chiba
YakumoYakumo-jinja Shrine, located in Chiba Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami Yakumo, a water spirit re...
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Yakumo-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
Yakumo-jinja Shrine, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of clou...
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Yakushi jinja
Miyagi
nullLocated in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Yakushi Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Yakushi Shrine
Gunma
Yakushin-no-kamiYakushi Shrine, located in the city of Ōtawara in Gunma Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity...
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Yakushi Shrine
Kumamoto
Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha as kami)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the healing Buddha who has been incorporated into Shint...
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Yakushiji Hachiman Shrine
Tochigi
HachimanYakushiji Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture....
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YakushiJinja
Miyagi
YakushinyoYakushi Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Yakyu Inari Shrine
Chiba
InariYakyu Inari Shrine, located in the city of Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Yama Shrine
沼津市, 静岡県
nullLocated in Shizuoka Prefecture, Yama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of mountains and...
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Yama Jinja
Nagano
Yamatsuri-OkamiLocated in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Yama Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami o...
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Yama Jinjya Shrine
Shizuoka
nullYama Jinjya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated to...
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Yama no Jinja
Nagano
Yamato TsukuyomiLocated in the Japanese Alps, Yama no Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain spirits tha...
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Yama no Kami Shrine
Fukushima
Mountain deityA small shrine dedicated to Yama no Kami, the mountain deity revered for protection of mountains, fo...
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Yama no Kami Shrine
Kochi
Mountain deityA local mountain shrine dedicated to Yama no Kami, the Shinto deity of mountains and forests. These...
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Yama no Kami Shrine
Kumamoto
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yama no Kami, the Shinto deity of mountains and forestry. These shrines are co...
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Yama no Kami Shrine
Gifu
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yama no Kami, the mountain deity revered in Japanese folk religion and Shinto....
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Yama Shrine
Gifu
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to mountain deities, typically serving local communities in mountainous regions....
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Yama Shrine
Gifu
Mountain deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to mountain worship, reflecting the deep spiritual connection between Japa...
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Yama Shrine
Gifu
Mountain deityA mountain shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the worship of mountain deities. These shrines are...
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Yama Shrine
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Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to mountain deities, typically found in mountainous regions of Japan. These shrin...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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