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
Shirohige Inari Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, sake...
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Shoichii Inari Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the deity of rice, sake, and prospe...
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Shoichii Inari Daimyojin Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the kami of rice, sake, and prosper...
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Shoyama Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding...
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Suitengu Shrine
Kumamoto
Amenominakanushi-no-mikotoSuitengu Shrine is dedicated to water deities and is particularly revered for prayers related to saf...
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Sukunoura Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, known for its coastal setting and maritime connectio...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, ancient kami of...
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Sumoto Benzaiten Shrine
Kumamoto
Benzaiten (goddess of water, music, and eloquence)A shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the Buddhist-Shinto syncretic deity associated with water, music, e...
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Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-kamiSuwa Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture is dedicated to Takeminakata-no-kami, the deity of wind, water, a...
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Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-mikotoSuwa Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture is dedicated to Takeminakata-no-mikoto, the Shinto deity of wind,...
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Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-mikotoA Suwa shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Takeminakata-no-mikoto, the deity of war, hunting,...
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Suyasono Sugawara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and p...
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Takaiwa Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, characterized by its name meaning 'high rock,' sugge...
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Takato Shrine
Kumamoto
HachimanTakato Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emperor...
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Takatsuka Kumano-za Shrine
Kumamoto
Kumano Sanzan deitiesTakatsuka Kumano-za Shrine is a Kumano shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deiti...
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Takeshima Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding...
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Tanasoko Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-MikotoA local Suwa shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Takeminakata-no-Mikoto. Li...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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