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
Akita
Saneki-no-OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, Akita-kyo Western Palace Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and beau...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture, the Tsukayama-ban'ei-jinsha Shinto shrine is dedicated to the kami of c...
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Akita
Kumagasa-oki-mikoStacked shrines, known as 'hira-guchi,' are a distinctive feature of Stack Shrine in Akita Prefectur...
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Akita
Inari ŌkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Ryōitai Jūkōdō Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kam...
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Akita
Inari OkamiEstablished in 1638, the Shinto shrine of Jōichi-machi is dedicated to Inari Okami, a prominent kami...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in Akita Prefecture, 水上神社 (Sugou-jinja) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the...
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Akita
Star Ridge Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity Tamagisanomiya Hachiman, a...
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Akita
YoshizunaThe White Mountain Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Akita
YatagarasuLocated in the heart of Akita, Tangamatsu Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the kami o...
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Akita
Ryujin, ToshisatoLocated in the heart of Akita, White Mountain Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the wors...
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Akita
Wakakusa-hime, Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Ifukamachi, is the beautiful Wakamatsu Shrine dedicated to the kami W...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita, Godai-san Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto kami that governs fertili...
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Akita
Located in the town of Takada, Akita Prefecture, Wood Spring Fujisan Shrine is a small Shinto shrine...
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Akita
Tatsu no KamiTatsunokuni Inari Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of ri...
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Akita
Tamuramaro no KamiLocated in the scenic city of Akita,田中神明社 is a Shinto shrine that has been dedicated to the wor...
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Akita
HachimanIwodo Jinsha, located in the Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the fores...
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Akita
HoshimikadoLocated in the city of Akita, northern Japan, North Pole Star God King Shrine is dedicated to the wo...
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Akita
GodaiGodai Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of agriculture and fertil...
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Akita
Tatara no KamiLocated in the city of Yonai, Akita Prefecture, 屋敷神 Shrine is dedicated to the kami of a traditio...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, the八柳神明神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice and pr...
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Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Berokiki Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary that honors t...
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Akita
KamiyamaThe Giyamagami Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of silver and p...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita, 御滝神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the water spirit ka...
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Akita
Gamo-no-kami, HachimanGamo-gawa Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the deity of the Gamo River and its surrounding...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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