Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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.

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30,440 shrines found

白洲野神社

Akita

Tamayamori

Located in the city of Akita, 白洲野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of good fortune an...

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村社諏訪神社

Akita

Tonase no Kami

Tonase Sainan Shrine, located in the Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tonase no Kam...

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神明神社

Akita

Godaikan

Located in Akita Prefecture, Godaikan Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same na...

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神明社

Akita

神明社, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of light and wisdom. T...

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稲荷神社

Akita

Amaterasu Omikami

Located in the heart of Akita, Shinto's oldest shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami is a must-visit...

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金毘羅神社

Akita

Kibitsuhiko no Ōkami

Tategi Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Kibitsuhiko no Ōkami, a...

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愛宕神社

Akita

Amaterasu Omikami

Love Temple Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god Amaterasu Omikami, revered as...

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八龍神社

Akita

Ryūjin

Located in Akita Prefecture, Eight Dragons Shrine is a small Shinto temple dedicated to the worship...

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三吉神社

Akita

Sanjigijūsō, Yamabushi no Kami

Located in the heart of Akita, Sanjigijūsō Shrine is a serene oasis nestled amidst the city's bustle...

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稲荷神社

Akita

Inari Okami

Located in Akita Prefecture, the Inari Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines dedicated...

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鹿島神社

Akita

Inari

Located in the city of Akita,鹿島神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god Inari Okami, revered f...

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不動明王

Akita

Noto Myo-o

Noto Myo-o Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Noto Myo-o, a kami...

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栗嶋神社

Akita

Ryujin, Enma Daiō

Stacked tile shrines are a distinct architectural style originating from the Akita region, reflectin...

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三嶋神社

Akita

Ōgami-no-Ōkami

Located in Akita Prefecture, Ōdate Jōhaku Shrine is dedicated to the god of longevity and prosperity...

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菅原神社 社務所

Akita

菅原神社社務所 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the same nam...

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八幡神社

Akita

Hachiman

Hachiman Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of war Hachiman. The sh...

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金川八幡神社

Akita

Hachiman

Located in the heart of Akita, Kinokawa Hachiman Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the d...

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六庚社

Akita

Mimasaka-yu no kami

Sixth Shrine of the God of Agriculture is a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami...

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渡部神社

Akita

Ryujin

Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Tatsuoka Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the worship...

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稲荷神社

Akita

Amaterasu Omikami

Indra Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dating back to t...

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稲荷神社

Akita

Inari Okami

Located in Akita Prefecture, the Dewa Sanzan Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okam...

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森越神社

Akita

Located in Akita Prefecture, forested terrain of Yuzawa influences the design of Forrest Gate Shri...

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日枝神社

Akita

Inari Ōkami

Dayo Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Ōkami, the deity of...

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星辻神社

Akita

Enmei Okami

Star Ridge Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Enmei Okami, who is...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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