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
Ishizuchi Shrine
Kochi
Ishizuchi-no-OmikamiIshizuchi Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Mount Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan a...
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Ishizuchi Shrine
Kochi
Ishizuchi-no-OmikamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of Mount Ishizuchi, Japan's highest peak in western Japan and...
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Ishizuchi Shrine
Kochi
Ishizuchi no OmikamiA shrine dedicated to Ishizuchi no Omikami, the deity of Mount Ishizuchi, the highest mountain in we...
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Iwakura Shrine
Kochi
Kami dwelling in sacred rocksIwakura Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture that represents the ancient Japanese tradition...
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Iwanoue Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman deity and related kamiIwanoue Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to Hachiman and associated...
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Iwasaki Hachiman Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionIwasaki Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Em...
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Iwaya Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, known for its cave-like setting or rock formations as s...
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Izumo Taisha Tosa Branch Shrine
Kochi
Okuninushi-no-MikotoA branch shrine of the famous Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture, established in Kochi Prefecture to...
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Jaou Daigongen Shrine
Kochi
Snake deityA Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Jaou Daigongen, a powerful snake deity. The shrine...
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Junisha Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to twelve kami, as indicated by its name 'Junisha' mea...
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Junisho Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to multiple kami, as indicated by its name 'Junisho' m...
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Kamado Shrine
Kochi
Kitchen and hearth deitiesA Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to kamado (kitchen hearth) deities, reflecting the tra...
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Kanayama Shrine
Kochi
Kanayama-hiko and Kanayama-himeKanayama Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deities of metalworking and mining, reflecting the histor...
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Kanda Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, sharing the name with the famous Kanda Shrine in Tokyo....
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Kaneyama Shrine
Kochi
Deities of mining and metalworkingA shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the protective deities of mining and metalworking. The nam...
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Kannoura Hachimangu Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)Kannoura Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emper...
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Kasuga Shrine
Kochi
Takemikazuchi-no-mikotoKasuga Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is a local branch of the famous Kasuga Taisha system, dedicated to...
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Kasuga Shrine
Kochi
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesKasuga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the Kasuga deities. Like other Kas...
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Kasuga Shrine
Kochi
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesA Kasuga shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the traditional Kasuga deities. Like other Kasuga s...
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Kasuga Taisha
Kochi
Fujiwara ancestral deities and protective kamiKasuga Taisha is a prominent Shinto shrine dedicated to the Fujiwara family's ancestral deities. The...
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Katte Shrine
Kochi
Local protective deityKatte Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture. The name 'Katte' suggests it may...
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Kawachi Daimyojin Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to regional protective deities. The name Daimyoj...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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