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
Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)Wakamiya Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin a...
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Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
Kochi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Wakamiya Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin a...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Gifu
Ojin Tenno (Emperor Ojin)Wakamiya Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin, the deified 1...
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Wanishimo Shrine
Nara
Emperor Ojin and associated deitiesWanishimo Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Tenri, Nara Prefecture, situated in the anci...
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Yamanaka Hachiman Shrine
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Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionYamanaka Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated d...
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Yamanoi Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
HachimanYamanoi Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emp...
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Yamazaki Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Yamazaki Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Oj...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities. The name refle...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to eight deities, as indicated by its name which literal...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities. The name refer...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, literally meaning 'Eight Pillar Shrine,' is dedicated to eight Shinto deities, typic...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to eight deities, typically including Hachiman and other...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight protective deitiesYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillars Shrine,' is dedicated to eight protective deities. The name r...
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Yashira Shrine
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Eight deities including HachimanYashira Shrine, meaning 'Eight Pillar Shrine,' is dedicated to eight major Shinto deities. The name...
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Yashiro Hachimangu Shrine
Kochi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Yashiro Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Empero...
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Yasumigaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Nara
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Yasumigaoka Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Nara Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emp...
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Yatsuka Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman-shin (god of war and culture)Yatsuka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the syncretic deity of w...
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Yatsurugi Shrine
Gifu
Yahata no Kami (Hachiman)Yatsurugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the divine protector o...
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Yatsurugi Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman and associated warrior deitiesYatsurugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the divine protect...
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Yatsutsurugi Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman deity and sword spiritsYatsutsurugi Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of sacred swords and the Hachiman deity. The name...
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Yoriki Hachiman Shrine
Kagoshima
Hachiman, god of war and protector of Japan View shrine →
Yoshimura Hachiman Shrine
Miyazaki
Hachiman, god of war and divine protection View shrine →
Yoshinaga Hachiman Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin. Like other...
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Yusuhara Hachimangu Shrine
Oita
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Yusuhara Hachimangu is a prominent Hachiman shrine in Oita Prefecture, known for its historical sign...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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