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
亘理町, 宮城県
InariLocated in the heart of Higashi Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Stone Bridge Inari Shrine is a small...
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仙台市, 宮城県
Matsue no OkamiMatsuo Shrine, located in the heart of Saitama Prefecture's largest city, is a historic Shinto shrin...
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仙台市, 宮城県
nullLocated in the heart of Saitama City, the ancient Shinto shrine 'Koketsu-jinja' is deeply rooted in...
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亘理町, 宮城県
Hachiman, Namagami-kamiHirayoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hirayu town, Miyagi prefecture. The shrine was origin...
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亘理町, 宮城県
Otaikitsune and Sennyu-senLocated in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, Mount Shinmei Shrine is dedicated to the Shint...
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仙台市, 宮城県
HachimanHenoko Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated to the god...
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Dairokuten-jinja Shrine
名取市, 宮城県
DairenokamiLocated in the city of Namikata, Miyagi Prefecture, Dairokuten-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the god...
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Kashima-jinja Shrine
石巻市, 宮城県
Amaterasu, Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the city of Ishinomaki, Kashima-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun godd...
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Kawaguchi Shrine
亘理町, 宮城県
Kawaguchi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, and is one of...
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Kumanonachi-jinja Shrine
名取市, 宮城県
Located in the city of Namikata, Miyagi Prefecture, Kumanonachi-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto te...
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Kurokawa Jinja
大和町, 宮城県
Tamatsumi-Ō no Ōe-no-MikotoLocated in the scenic town of Ōdō, Miyagi Prefecture is Kurokawa Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Minato Shrine
亘理町, 宮城県
Kanayamata no KamiLocated in the town of Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Minato Shrine is a serene Shinto shrin...
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Sakuradasan Jinja
栗原市, 宮城県
Sakuradasan Jinja, located in Miyagi Prefecture's Kurihara City, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Sanpodaiko-jin Shrine
仙台市, 宮城県
Ise-Ningen no KamiSanpodaiko-jin Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Sendo, Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the prote...
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Suwa Jinja
栗原市, 宮城県
Suwa-no-kamayakiSuwa Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Hiyama-cho, Aobai-machi, Sakuragaoka-cho, Mikage-cho, Kita-...
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Tabidachi Inari Jinja
仙台市, 宮城県
Inari OkamiTabidachi Inari Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Senda, Miyagi Prefecture, known as the 'birthpla...
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Takami Jinja
栗原市, 宮城県
Located in the heart of Kurihara City, Takami Shrine is a serene Shinto oasis nestled among the hill...
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Uba-jinja Shrine
仙台市, 宮城県
Uba no KamiUba-jinja Shrine, located in Sendo, Aobayashi County of old Mikawa Province, is a Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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