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
Aomori
Located in Aomori Prefecture, the胸肩神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the chest and...
View shrine →Aomori
Tsukuyomilocated in the northern prefecture of aomori, aomori-tetsugaku-jinja shrine is dedicated to the god...
View shrine →Aomori
RyujinAiDatsumya Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sea...
View shrine →Aomori
HachimanLocated in the scenic Aomori Prefecture, Asamatsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Aomori
HachimanLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Tenzawa Taishaza Hachiman-gū is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god o...
View shrine →Aomori
Hakamagō-no-kamiThis Shinto shrine in Aomori Prefecture honors Hakamagō-no-kami, the kami of grain and agriculture....
View shrine →Aomori
Tenman-guOne Nozawa Tenman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Aomori Prefecture of northern Japan, famo...
View shrine →Aomori
Located in the scenic Aomori Prefecture, リースミン神社 (Risumi Jinja) is a revered Shinto shrine de...
View shrine →Aomori
HachimanLocated in the Aomori Prefecture of Japan, Eight-Horned Shrine (Hachimantai Jinja) is a prominent Sh...
View shrine →Aomori
Located in Aomori Prefecture, 湯の沢神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of a hot spring kn...
View shrine →Aomori
RyujinLocated in Aomori Prefecture, 熊野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest and th...
View shrine →Aomori
Setsuna no SeimuLove Temple Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is dedicated to Setsuna no Seimu, a Shinto deity o...
View shrine →Aomori
Matsubushi OkamiMatsubushi Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Matsubush...
View shrine →Aomori
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the northernmost part of Japan, Eight Hells Shrine (Hachimantai) is a Shinto shrine situa...
View shrine →Aomori
Benzaiten, FūjinMaratō Kannon-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Aomori Prefecture, dedicated to the sea goddess Be...
View shrine →Aomori
RyujinLocated in the city of Aomori, Water God Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of water...
View shrine →Aomori
Three-months-dedicated to the spirits of spring, summer, autumn, and winter at this Aomori shrine, b...
View shrine →Aomori
Inari Ōno-mikotoLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Inda no Okami Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines on the main i...
View shrine →Aomori
InariLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Shinhando Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Inari Okami...
View shrine →Aomori
ŌkuninushiLocated in Aomori Prefecture, 菅原神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Ōkuninushi, patron...
View shrine →Aomori
Inari OkamiFushimi Inari Shrine, located in Kyoto, is not the same as Futsuomi Inari Taisha in Aomori Prefectur...
View shrine →Aomori
Located in the city of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, 外荒巻神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
View shrine →Aomori
Ō no TsukiyomiWhite Faced Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Ō no Tsuk...
View shrine →Aomori
Located in the heart of Aomori Prefecture, 杉沢熊野神社 is a revered Shinto shrine that honors the k...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Yokai, oni, kitsune and spirits from folklore
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Verified itch.io pixel-art gacha — fair odds, no ads
Reference guides for classic Japanese ham radios
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.