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
Zengo Shinmeisha Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiZengo Shinmeisha is a Shinmei shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omika...
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Zeniarai Benten
Gunma
BenzaitenLocated in the city of Tateyama, Gunma Prefecture, Zeniarai Benten Shrine is dedicated to the goddes...
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Zenigata Jinja
Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the city of Sendai, Zenigata Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of wealth and...
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Zoi Hachiman Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection) View shrine →
Zozan Shrine
Nagano
SakigamiZozan Shrine, located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the pro...
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白和龍王大神
Yamanashi
Hachiman Ō no OkamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Yamanashi,白龍神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the dragon...
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白赤稲荷大伸 Fushimi Hakuseki Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
InariLocated in Fukuoka, the capital city of Kyushu, Fushimi Hakuseki Inari Shrine is one of Japan's olde...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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