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
Yanaka Inari Shrine
Ibaraki
InariYanaka Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Ibaraki Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Yanase Inari Shrine
Nara
Inari OkamiYanase Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and prosperi...
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Yanbetsu Shrine
Hokkaido
nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Yanbetsu Shrine is a small but picturesque Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Yanegami-sama
Gifu
Household protective deitiesYanegami-sama refers to small rooftop shrines commonly found in the Nagoya region and surrounding ar...
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Yaneiri Tenjin Shrine
Kanagawa
Sugawara no MichizaneA local Tenjin shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar...
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Yaotome Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachi-OkamiYaotome Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of...
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Yasaka Jinja
Miyagi
Yasaka Jinja is primarily dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto god of war and protector of the emperor.Yasaka Jinja, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the mountain...
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Yasaka Jinja
Miyagi
SusanooLocated in the heart of Sendai, the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Yasaka Jinja is a Shinto shri...
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Yasaka Jinja
Miyagi
Yasaka Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and is one of the...
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Yasaka Shrine
Shiga
ŌiYasaka Shrine, located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japa...
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Yasaka Shrine
Fukuoka
Funaoka InariYasaka Shrine, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, is one of the oldest shrines in Japan dedicated to the...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Fujin and HikoboshiYasaka Shrine, located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of Japan's most iconic Shinto shrine...
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Yasaka Shrine
Shizuoka
Susano-oYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, and is dedicat...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kyoto
TakemikazuchiYasaka Shrine, located in the heart of Gion district in Kyoto, is one of Japan's oldest and most fam...
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Yasaka Shrine
Shimane
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine, located in the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous Sh...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Hiroshima
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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