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
Haraigawa Shrine
Yamagata
Haraigawa Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site that honors...
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Hayama-jinja Shrine
Yamagata
Hayama-jinja Shrine, located in the scenic Yamagata Prefecture, is a serene Shinto temple dedicated...
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Inari Shrine
Yamagata
Inari OkamiInari Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous and revered...
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Kagoyamainari-jinja Shrine
Yamagata
InariLocated in the heart of Yamagata, Kagoyamainari-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to...
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Kinpō Shrine
Yamagata
Kinpō Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated to...
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Reisha
Yamagata
nullLocated in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, Reisha Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary dedicate...
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Sanshin Gosaiden
Yamagata
nullSanshin Gosaiden is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the three gods of the Japanese Alps, Sanzan. Locate...
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Sugio Jinja
Yamagata
Sugio-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Sugio Jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated t...
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Toshoji
Yamagata
Ōno Imahashi-OkamiToshoji Shrine is a historic Shinto temple located in the heart of Yamagata City, dedicated to the w...
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Uesugi Shrine
Yamagata
KosunomaruUesugi Shrine, located in Yamagata Prefecture, is dedicated to the deified spirits of the Uesugi cla...
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Yoshimamesauri Temple
Yamagata
YoshimameYoshimamesauri Temple, located in the Yamagata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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Yudonosan Main Shrine
Yamagata
Mount Yudono's kamiYudonosan Main Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Yuzawa, Yamagata Prefecture, renowne...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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