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
Shimane
Ōinari Ō-no-miyaLongshod Shrine, located in the scenic town of Masuda in Shimane Prefecture, is a revered Shinto sit...
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Shimane
Ariwara no MikotoIn the heart of Shimane Prefecture lies the ancient shrine of Ariwara no Mikoto Shrine, dedicated to...
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Shimane
HachimanNagatsuma Shrine, located in Shimane Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agricult...
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Shimane
Susanoo and InariLocated in the town of Yata in Shimane Prefecture, Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's most famous Shinto...
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Shimane
Ōtori no MatsuNoboribetsu Onsen's most revered Shinto shrine, Ōtori no Matsu is a revered sacred tree in the area,...
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Shimane
HashihimeLocated in the scenic town of Oki, Shimane Prefecture, is the historic Plain Hill Eight Horses Shrin...
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Shimane
HikoboshiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Anseitotsu Hikoboshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
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Shimane
InariWintergrove Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the scenic town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. Dedi...
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Shimane
RyujinMt. Dassai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Dedic...
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Shimane
InariLocated in the scenic town of Yonai, Shimane Prefecture, Daitoshi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine...
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Shimane
Ehime no Kuni no Mikoto-sanEhime no Kuni no Mikoto-san, the deity enshrined at Ehime's sake and rice fields, has its roots in t...
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Shimane
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the scenic Miyajima Island, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Susan...
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Shimane
Susanosukune no MikotoLocated in the scenic town of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, 熊岡神社 is a sacred Shinto site dedicated...
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Shimane
NewaNewa Shrine, located in the town of Yuumura in Shimane Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to N...
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Shimane
Tailgatsumi no Kami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, kno...
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Shimane
Nakanozuka no OkamiLocated in the town of Mairu, Shimane Prefecture, 才诺木神社 (Nakanozuka Shrine) is a Shinto shrine...
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Shimane
BerethingaBerethinga Shrine, located in the city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Shimane
Kobayashi-okiKobayashi Mountain Shrine, located in the Kotsu River valley of Shimane Prefecture, is a Shinto shri...
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Shimane
Riverine Shrine dedicated to the kami of rivers and waterways, believed to bring good fortune and pr...
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Shimane
InariLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Huji Shrine is dedicated to the kami Inari, rever...
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Shimane
HachimanLocated in the heart of Shimane Prefecture, Middle Shimoji Hachiman Shrine is a historic Shinto site...
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Shimane
Located in the heart of Shikoku, Katsurahime no Mori Shrine is dedicated to the kami of music and po...
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Shimane
HachimanLocated in the Yamaguchi Plain of western Japan, the middle of which is a vast swamp called Mutsu, M...
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Shimane
HachimanMcIdaira Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iwami, Shimane Prefecture. The sh...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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