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
Teruishi Shrine
Tochigi
nullTeruishi Shrine, located in the town of Miyakubashi in Tochigi Prefecture, is a small but charming S...
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Tobiishi Hachiman Shrine
Tochigi
HachimanTobiishi Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Tochigi Prefecture, dedicated to the deit...
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Tōshō-gū shrine
Tochigi
Ōkuninushi-no-kamiTōshō-gū shrine, located in Tochigi Prefecture, is a renowned Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified...
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Totoro Shrine
Tochigi
nullTotoro Shrine, located in the Tochigi prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the fores...
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Washinomiya Shrine
Tochigi
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Washinomiya Shrine is a prominent Shinto shri...
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Yakushiji Hachiman Shrine
Tochigi
HachimanYakushiji Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture....
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Yoake Inari Shrine
Tochigi
Inari OkamiYoake Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, and is...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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