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
Akita
AmaterasuInakaya Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the sun goddess Amatera...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Eight-Horsemans Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Hachiman, r...
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Akita
InariInakagiyama Sato Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddes...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, 稲荷神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice goddess Inari...
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Akita
Ganto no OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita City, Ganto Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the deity...
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Akita
Ōkubo-no-KamiLocated in the city of Akita, Akita's oldest Shinto shrine, outside of which is a large stone monume...
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Akita
HachimanMiddle Hill Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, known for its unique architecture...
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Akita
Sanji, the god of good luck and prosperityLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sanjigijinsha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
HachimanThe Eight-Legged God Shrine, located in the city of Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, is a revered Shinto...
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Akita
Located in the city of Tazawako, Akita Prefecture, Dōtai Jigū Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deit...
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Akita
Yunozuka no kamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, White Mountain Princess Shrine is a serene Shinto shrine d...
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Akita
Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, White Mountain Eightfold Shrine is a sacred Shinto site de...
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Akita
RaijinLocated in Akita Prefecture, Village Town Taiho Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Rai...
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Akita
Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita City, Eight-Horned Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Sh...
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Akita
Amaterasu OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is one of the largest and most important Shi...
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Akita
Kanezawa Okina no kamiLocated in the city of Akita, Sanjigijinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Kanezawa Okina no kami,...
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Akita
UdumaroLocated in the city of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Dudu Shinmeisha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
Dewa OkamiTosen-ryu-jinja, the Toyopira Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to Dewa Okami, a kami of ferti...
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Akita
Hachiman, BenzaitenLocated in the heart of Akita, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the godd...
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Akita
Ōkuni IchirōBear's Den Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Ōkuni Ichirō, a kam...
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Akita
RyujinLong Hamamatsu Shrine, located in the town of Sakata, Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated...
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Akita
HachimanWhite-Haired Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the deity...
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Akita
BenzaitenLocated in the Akita Prefecture, White Stupa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of lon...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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