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
Yamaguchi Gokoku Shrine
Yamaguchi
War dead and spirits of those who died for the nationYamaguchi Gokoku Shrine is dedicated to honoring the spirits of those from Yamaguchi Prefecture who...
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Yamaguchi Kumanosha
Nagano
nullLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Yamaguchi Kumanosha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Yamaguchi Shrine
Nara
A Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, taking its name from the Japanese characters meaning 'mo...
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Yamaguni Shrine
Kyoto
Yamaguchi-no-kami Shrine, located in the mountains of western Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
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Yamaji Oji Shrine
Wakayama
Kumano deitiesYamaji Oji Shrine is one of the subsidiary shrines (oji) along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes in...
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Yamakami Shrine
Miyagi
Yamakami-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, but incorrectly attributed to Miyagi, Yamakami Shrine i...
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Yamakawa Shrine
岡山市, 岡山県
Inari OkamiLocated in Okayama City, Yamakawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and pr...
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Yamakuwa Inari Shrine
匝瑳市, 千葉県
Inari OkamiYamakuwa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Apedani, Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the wors...
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Yamamiya Sengen Shrine
Yamanashi
SengenYamamiya Sengen Shrine, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Se...
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Yamamiya Shrine
Kagoshima
Yamamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, whose name translates to 'Mounta...
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Yamanaka Hachiman Shrine
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Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionYamanaka Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated d...
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Yamanaka Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiYamanaka Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosp...
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Yamano Shrine
函南町, 静岡県
Inari OkamiYamano Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukunagatsumachi, Fukutsu town, in the Shimane Prefectur...
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Yamano-jinjya Shrine
伊豆市, 静岡県
Yamano OkamiYamano-jinjya Shrine, located in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Yamanoha Shrine
Okinawa
Yamanoha Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on the island of Okinawa, Japan. The shrine is dedicated...
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Yamanoha Shrine
Okinawa
OtohimeLocated on the island of Okinawa, Yamanoha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection and...
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Yamanoi Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
HachimanYamanoi Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emp...
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Yamanokami Shrine
Gifu
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yamanokami, the Shinto deity of mountains and forests. These shrines are commo...
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Yamanokami Shrine
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Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yamanokami, the Shinto deity of mountains and forests. These shrines are commo...
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Yamanokami Shrine
Gifu
Yamanokami (mountain deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Yamanokami, the mountain deity who protects the mountains, forests, and...
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Yamanokami Shrine
Kagoshima
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yamanokami, the mountain deity revered throughout Japan for protection of moun...
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Yamanokami Shrine
Fukushima
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yamanokami, the mountain deity who protects mountainous regions and is often a...
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Yamanokamisha Shrine
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Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yama no Kami, the mountain deity in Japanese folk religion and Shinto. These s...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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