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
Aooka Awashima Shrine
Hiroshima
Sukunahikona-no-mikotoAooka Awashima Shrine is dedicated to Sukunahikona-no-mikoto, a deity associated with medicine, heal...
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Aragami Shrine
Hiroshima
Aragami (fierce protective deities)A shrine dedicated to Aragami, fierce protective deities in Japanese folk religion who are believed...
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Arakojin Shrine
Hiroshima
Arakojin (Wild Fire Deity)A shrine dedicated to Arakojin, a fierce protective deity associated with fire, hearth, and kitchen....
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Aramitama Shrine
Hiroshima
Aramitama (rough spirit aspect of kami)A Shinto shrine dedicated to aramitama, representing the rough, active, and dynamic aspect of kami s...
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Chokake Shrine Otabisho
Hiroshima
An otabisho (temporary resting place) associated with Chokake Shrine, serving as a ceremonial statio...
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Ebisu Shrine
Hiroshima
Ebisu, deity of prosperity and commerceEbisu Shrine in Hiroshima is one of Japan's three major Ebisu shrines, renowned for its annual Toka...
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Ebisu Shrine
Hiroshima
EbisuA prominent Ebisu shrine in Hiroshima known for its annual festival and as a center of commerce wors...
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Gozu Tenno Shrine
Hiroshima
Gozu Tenno (protector against disease and disaster)A shrine dedicated to Gozu Tenno, a powerful protective deity associated with warding off epidemics,...
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Hakusan Hime Shrine
Hiroshima
Shirayama-hime-no-mikotoA Hakusan shrine dedicated to Shirayama-hime-no-mikoto, the principal deity of Mount Hakusan. This s...
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Ichinomiya Shrine
Hiroshima
Ichinomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture that historically held the distinction...
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Inoue Munakata Shrine
Hiroshima
Munakata Sanjojin (Three Goddess Sisters)A branch shrine of the famous Munakata Taisha in Fukuoka, dedicated to the three Munakata goddesses...
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Jishu Shrine
Hiroshima
Land deity and local protective spiritsA local Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture dedicated to the land deity and local spiritual protec...
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Kawanoe Hachiman Shrine
Hiroshima
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)A Hachiman shrine located in Hiroshima Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associat...
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Konpira Shrine
Hiroshima
Ōmononushi-no-KamiA Konpira shrine dedicated to the deity of sea protection and safe navigation. Konpira shrines are f...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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