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
Otomiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving as an important local spiritual center for t...
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Ritsuganji Onsen Inari Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine associated with the Ritsuganji hot springs area in Kumamoto Prefecture. As an I...
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Ryu Shrine
Kumamoto
Dragon deity (Ryūjin)A Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the deep connection b...
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Ryujin Shrine
Kumamoto
Ryujin (Dragon King deity)A Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Ryujin, the dragon deity of the sea and water. D...
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Sadahiro Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Sadahiro DaimyojinA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sadahiro Daimyojin, likely honoring a deified hi...
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Sae Shrine
Kumamoto
Sae no KamiA shrine dedicated to Sae no Kami, protective deities associated with boundaries, crossroads, and wa...
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Sagara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sagara clan ancestors and HachimanA shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the Sagara clan, the feudal lords who ruled the Hitoyos...
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Saisei-gu Shrine
Kumamoto
Hokushin (North Star deity)Saisei-gu is a Myoken shrine dedicated to the worship of stellar deities, particularly the North Sta...
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Sakamoto Suijin Shrine
Kumamoto
Water deityA local water deity shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the spiritual protection of water sou...
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Saki Shrine
Kumamoto
Local protective deitiesSaki Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving as a spiritual center f...
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Sanjingu Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture whose name literally means 'Three Deities Shrine,' suggesting...
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Sankai Onsen Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, associated with hot spring waters as indicated...
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Sanmiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture. The name 'Sanmiya' meaning 'third shrine' suggests i...
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Sannomiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to regional kami. The name 'Sannomiya' indica...
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Satomiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture serving as a spiritual center for the surrounding commu...
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Shiga Shrine
Kumamoto
Sea deity worshipShiga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to sea deities. The shrine serves t...
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Shimako Hachimangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman no Kami)Shimako Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified Empe...
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Shimotsuura Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-MikotoA local Suwa shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Takeminakata-no-Mikoto. As...
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Shioi Shrine
Kumamoto
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Shioi Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, dedicated to Emperor Ojin and asso...
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Shioya Hachimangu Shrine
Kumamoto
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Shioya Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin...
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Shirahige Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Sarutahiko no OkamiA Shirahige shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, the deity of guidance an...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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