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
Tsuetate Inari Shrine
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiTsuetate Inari Shrine is located in the famous hot spring town of Tsuetate Onsen in Kumamoto Prefect...
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Tsuetate Kotai Jingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiTsuetate Kotai Jingu is a shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity o...
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Tsuriki Inari Daimyojin
Kumamoto
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the fox deity Inari, known for bringing pro...
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Ubu Shrine
Kumamoto
A shrine dedicated to safe childbirth and child protection, as indicated by its name 'Ubu' which rel...
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Uchikoshi Sugawara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and p...
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Uchimaki Sugawara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and p...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kumamoto
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to a young deity or child god, a...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kumamoto
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to youthful or junior kami. The...
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Yaki Shrine
Kumamoto
A Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, serving as a local spiritual center for the surround...
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Yakushi Shrine
Kumamoto
Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha as kami)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the healing Buddha who has been incorporated into Shint...
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Yama no Kami Shrine
Kumamoto
Mountain deityA shrine dedicated to Yama no Kami, the Shinto deity of mountains and forestry. These shrines are co...
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Yama Shrine
Kumamoto
Mountain deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to mountain deities, reflecting the deep spiritual connection between Japa...
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Yamada Hiyoshi Shrine
Kumamoto
Oyamakui-no-kamiYamada Hiyoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Oyam...
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Yasudakubo Sugawara Shrine
Kumamoto
Sugawara no MichizaneYasudakubo Sugawara Shrine is a Tenjin shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the deified schola...
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Yatake Shrine
Kumamoto
Deities of archery and martial prowessA Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto Prefecture, dedicated to deities associated with archery and mar...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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