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
Yasaki-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
YasakiLocated in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Yasaki-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Yaseo Jinja Shrine
Nagano
Yaseo Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, dedicated to the...
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Yashira Shrine
Nara
Eight protective deitiesYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to eight protective deities, as indic...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities. The name refer...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities (traditionally including agricultural and protective kami)Yashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities. The name 'yash...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, literally meaning 'Eight Pillar Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities, typic...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities enshrined togetherYashira Shrine, literally meaning 'Eight Pillar Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities. The n...
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Yashira Shrine
Gifu
Eight pillars of kamiYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that enshrines eight different kami, as indicat...
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Yashira Shrine
Gifu
Eight deities including Yamato Takeru no MikotoYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to eight deities, with Yamato Takeru...
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Yashira Shrine
Gifu
Eight deities (varied)Yashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that enshrines eight deities, as indicated by i...
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Yashira Shrine
Gifu
Eight protective deitiesYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to eight protective kami. The name 'Y...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities. The name refle...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to eight deities, as indicated by its name which literal...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight protective deitiesYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight protective deities. The name r...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to eight deities, typically including Hachiman and other...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillar Shrine,' is dedicated to eight major Shinto deities. The name...
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Yashiro Hachimangu Shrine
Kochi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Yashiro Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Empero...
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Yashu Yamaguchi Shrine
Shiga
nullYashu Yamaguchi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Katsuta, Shiga Prefecture. The shri...
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Yasudakubo Sugawara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneYasudakubo Sugawara Shrine is a Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified schola...
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Yasui Konpira-gu
Shiga
KonpiraYasui Konpira-gu Shrine is a revered Shinto site located in the scenic town of Echizen, Shiga Prefec...
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Yasui-jinja Shrine
Osaka
FujinYasui-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Osawa district of Osaka, known for its serene g...
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Yasumaru-Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
Hyoshoki no KamiLocated in the city of Katsuragi, Whitehorse City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Yasumaru-Hiyoshi Jinja Shrin...
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Yasumigaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Nara
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Yasumigaoka Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Nara Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emp...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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