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
Tatsuichi Shrine
Nara
A local Shinto shrine located in the historic Kashihara area of Nara Prefecture, serving the spiritu...
View shrine →Tenichi Shrine
Nara
TenichijinA Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Tenichijin, a deity associated with celestial protec...
View shrine →Tenjin Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
View shrine →Tenjin Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneTenjin Shrine in Nara Prefecture is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified spirit of learni...
View shrine →Tenman Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneTenman Shrine is a Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and patron...
View shrine →Tenman Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician who became th...
View shrine →Tenman Shrine
Nara
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician who became th...
View shrine →Tomi Shrine
Nara
Emperor JimmuTomi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture associated with Emperor Jimmu, Japan's le...
View shrine →Tsuge Yamaguchi Shrine
Nara
Mountain deity of the Tsuge areaA local shrine in the mountainous Tsuge region of Nara Prefecture, dedicated to the protective mount...
View shrine →Tsukihi Shrine
Nara
Sun and Moon deitiesTsukihi Shrine is dedicated to the celestial deities of the sun and moon, representing the dual forc...
View shrine →Tsushima Shrine
Nara
Susanoo-no-MikotoTsushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god...
View shrine →Ubuta Shrine
Nara
A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to deities associated with childbirth and safe delivery...
View shrine →Urufushina Shrine
Nara
A historic Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, known for its ancient origins and connection to...
View shrine →Uzume Daikyokai
Nara
Ame-no-Uzume-no-MikotoUzume Daikyokai is a Shinto religious organization affiliated with Shinto Taikyo, one of the major S...
View shrine →Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine
Nara
Hachiman, the divine spirit of Emperor OjinWakamiya Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Oj...
View shrine →Wakamiya Shrine
Nara
Young kami or prince deityWakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to a young kami or prince deity. The...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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