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
Yukizuka Shrine
Gunma
nullLocated in the picturesque prefecture of Gunma, Yukizuka Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated...
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Yumae Shrine
Gunma
InariYumae Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Gunma prefecture, Japan. It is dedicated to the worsh...
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Yunoue Onsen Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, associated with the hot springs area of Yunoue...
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Yuriage Minato Shrine
Miyagi
Yuriage Minato Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Ōsaki, Miyagi Prefecture. The shrine...
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Yuriageminato-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
Minatogama OkamiLocated in the scenic town of Yuriage, Miyagi Prefecture, 閖上湊神社 is a historic Shinto shrine ded...
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Yurie Tenjin Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
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Yushima Tenmangū
文京区, Ibaraki
Tenman OkamiYushima Tenmangū, located in the city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto s...
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Yusuhara Hachimangu Shrine
Oita
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Yusuhara Hachimangu is a prominent Hachiman shrine in Oita Prefecture, known for its historical sign...
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Yusui Ryuodo Hall
Kochi
Ryuojin (Dragon King deity)A sacred hall dedicated to the Dragon King deity, associated with natural spring water and water wor...
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Yuwaku fushimi Inari Shrine
Toyama
Enma-hikoLocated in the city of Fushimi, Toyama Prefecture, Yuwaku fushimi Inari Shrine is a lesser-known Shi...
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Yuwasaka-Inari Shrine
Kyoto
Inari OkamiLocated in Kyoto, Yuwasaka-Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess of rice and fert...
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Yuzawa Shrine
Hokkaido
YuzawaYuzawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Hokkaido's scenic Toya Lake region. Dedicat...
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Yuzen Shrine
Shizuoka
Hachiman-gamiYuzen Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Hyogo
nullYuzuruha Shrine, located in the heart of Japan's scenic Hyogo prefecture, is a revered Shinto site d...
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Zao Gongen Hall
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Zao GongenA hall dedicated to Zao Gongen, the fierce protective deity of Shugendo mountain asceticism. Zao Gon...
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Zaosan Shrine
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Zaō GongenA Shinto shrine dedicated to Zaō Gongen, a syncretic deity combining Buddhist and Shinto elements wh...
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Zaou Shrine
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Zaou Gongen (syncretic mountain deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Zaou Gongen, a syncretic deity combining Buddhist and Shinto elements w...
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Zaou Shrine
和歌山
Zaou GongenA shrine dedicated to Zaou Gongen, the fierce protective deity of mountains and ascetic practices in...
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Zaou Shrine
Kochi
Zaou GongenZaou Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Zaou Gongen, a syncretic Buddhist-Sh...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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