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
Yoshiwara Shrine
Ishikawa
nullLocated in the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, Yoshiwara Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Yoshu Shrine
Shiga
Hikoboshi no OkamiYoshu Shrine, located in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, is a sacred site dedicated to the worsh...
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Yotsuya Inari Shrine
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Ukanomitama-no-KamiYotsuya Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine dedicated to the deity of rice, sake, and prosperity. L...
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Yoyogi Hachiman
Tokyo
HachimanYoyogi Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the heart of Tokyo's Shibuya ward, near the fam...
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Yu Jinja
松山市, 愛媛県
Yamato no OrochiLocated in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Yu Jinsha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Yu Jinja
Miyagi
Yamato no OkamiLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Yu Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god o...
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Yu Jinja Shrine
Niigata
nullYu Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Yuasa Omiya Akuni Shrine
Wakayama
Akuni no MikotoYuasa Omiya Akuni Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Yuasa town, Wakayama Prefecture. The...
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Yubari shrine
Hokkaido
Enokoshita-hikoboshiYubari Shrine, located in Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and prosper...
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Yudonosan Jinja
Miyagi
YudonoYudonosan Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The shr...
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Yudonosan Main Shrine
Yamagata
Mount Yudono's kamiYudonosan Main Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Yuzawa, Yamagata Prefecture, renowne...
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Yuge Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, dedicated to local kami and serving the spiritual ne...
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Yugun Shrine
Ehime
nullLocated in the city of Uchiura, Ehime Prefecture, Yugun Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the d...
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Yugura jinja
Hokkaido
nullYugura jinja, located in the picturesque town of Shiraoi in Hokkaido's Ishikari District, is a Shint...
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Yuishinkai Headquarters
Tokyo
The Yuishinkai Headquarters is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Tokyo, dedicated to the worsh...
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Yukawa Shrine
Shizuoka
OkuninushiLocated in the city of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yukawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Oku...
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Yuki Shrine
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Kitabatake ChikafusaYuki Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, dedicated to the spirit of Kitabatake Chikafu...
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Yuki Shrine
Shiga
Yuki-onnaLocated in the scenic Lake Biwa region, Yuki Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the go...
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Yukigaya Hachiman Shrine
Tokyo
HachimanLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Yukigaya Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the revered...
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Yukiyoshisha
Nagano
YukiyoshiYukiyoshisha Shrine, located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Yuk...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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