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

古峯神社

Niigata

Hikoboshi

Located in the Ogasawara Islands, ancient mountain passes, and fertile valleys of Niigata Prefecture...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Shichirin-san

Located in the Niigata Prefecture, 湯殿山 Shrine is dedicated to Shichirin-san, a deity believed to...

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馬頭観音

Niigata

Enma Daiou

Located in the city of Yuzawa, Maeda Jishu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Enma Daiou, the Bu...

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古峯神社

Niigata

Kumou-no-kami

Located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, ancient Kumou-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deity...

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二十三夜塔

Niigata

Ryujin

Haseda Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the god of storms and fertility, Ryuji...

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巳待塔

Niigata

Okuninushi Okami

located in the Noto Peninsula, Hata-ta is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi Okami, a kami asso...

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巳待塔

Niigata

Posed in the picturesque village of Nagano, the Tatsuta Shrine is a well-preserved Shinto temple ded...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Tomidera-san, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is a humble Shinto shrine dedicated to...

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古峯神社

Niigata

Iwaki-tsurugi no kami

Ancient and serene, Ancient Ridge Shrine in Nikko City is one of Japan's most beautiful shrines and...

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牛頭天王石碑

Niigata

null

Located in Niigata Prefecture, the Ryuzu Tenno Ishi-bito is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryuzen no O...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Ryūjin-gami

Tomidera Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shintō kami, Ry...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Tomino-no-kami

Located in the heart of Japan's rugged mountains, Tomidono-san is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated t...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Mount Tsumaya

Tsumaya Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Located in the Niigata Prefecture, 湯殿山 (Hotonden-yama) Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the...

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飯豊山

Niigata

Fuin no Yama Shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...

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古峯神社

Niigata

Tatsuoka Inari Shrine, also known as Tatsunohara Inari Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the tow...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Inari Okami

Tomidaira Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity I...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Ryūjin

Located in the heart of Echigo Sanzan, a sacred mountain range in Niigata Prefecture, Ōdō Shrine is...

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稲荷神社

Niigata

Inari

Ishibashi Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god of rice and prosperity, is located in the heart of San...

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古峯神社

Niigata

Ryujin

Tsuruga Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity of the sea...

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湯殿山

Niigata

Located in the Japanese Alps, Towadaiyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection of t...

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古峯神社

Niigata

Located in the heart of Japan's snow-capped mountains, Ōi-sanji Hōshi no Miyako Shrine is a Shinto s...

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鳥之子神社

新潟県新潟市, Niigata

Inari Okami

Located in the heart of New Nagasaki, Bird's Nest Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship...

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諏訪社

Niigata

Enma-daijin

諏訪社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Minami, Niigata Prefecture, known as 'Niigata's Shr...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

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

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