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
Nagano
Fukurogawa Shrine, located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, is a serene Shinto sanctuary dedicated...
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Nagano
TenchuLocated in the town of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, the Jougan Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Nagano
Sugawara no MichizaneTenjin Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a renowned statesman and s...
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Nagano
Ōkuno-mikotoLocated in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture,矢崎御頭御社宮司社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Nagano
Located in the heart of Nagano, 御座石神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the...
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Nagano
Futsunokami InariLocated in the heart of Nagano,東堀正八幡宮 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Futsu...
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Nagano
Tsukiyomi no kami ( Tsuki-yoh-mee-noh-kah-mee )氷室五社神社, located in the Japanese Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Nagano
Autumn Leaves Shrine, located in the scenic village of Karuizawa, is dedicated to the Shinto kami Au...
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Nagano
Nigishimaya-hikoLocated in the Japanese Alps, Big Fuji Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is a sacred site honoring the mou...
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Nagano
The Wujigami Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the god Wuji...
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Nagano
Yoshino-OkuninushiLocated in the city of Karuizawa, West Mount Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shint...
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Nagano
FujinAnada Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the Japanese Alps, in the town of Iwate, Nagano Prefecture...
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Nagano
HachimanLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to th...
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Nagano
Oita-dani Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Obasaka, Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to...
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Nagano
SusanooIse Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nagano Prefecture, but the correct location is actual...
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Nagano
AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Nagano, Tennozu Okamisan Shrine is dedicated to the Amaterasu Omikami, the S...
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Nagano
ŌkuninushiLong Pool Shrine, located in the heart of the Japanese Alps in Nagano Prefecture, is a revered Shint...
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Nagano
Tamayamagi諏訪神社, dedicated to the Shinto kami of the same name, is located in the town of Kakunodate, Nagan...
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Nagano
Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, 功霊殿 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of goo...
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Nagano
玉依比売命神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Narai, Nagano Prefecture. Dedicated to Inar...
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Nagano
芹田下神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the village of Narai, Nagano Prefecture, which was once an...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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