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
Iwate
Located in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate, 茶畑大明神 Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity...
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Hachiman TenjinLocated in the mountainous region of northeastern Japan, the Haguro-san Shrine in Yamagata Prefectur...
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RyujinHeiwakei Shrine, located in the Heiwakei Village of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine...
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Seto InariSeto Inari Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Seto Inari, the kami...
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InariLocated in the Tono City of Iwate Prefecture, Shinden Inari Taisha is a revered Shinto shrine dedica...
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Tsukuyomi-no-kamiEight-Horsetail Shrine, a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of good fortune and prosperity, located...
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InariAmashio Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. The shrine is dedicate...
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Located in the heart of Mutsu, Aomori City, in northern Japan, 智和伾神社 (Shinwa Tsukigami Shrine)...
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Gold SwordGold Sword Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to Gold Sword dei...
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Kinryu藥師神社 is a Shinto shrine in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of healing and med...
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Miki-no-kamiMiki no Daito-hara Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Miki-no-kami, a kami of swordsmi...
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Highmatsumae Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, but it's also known a...
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Tamayura-himeKatsurigawa Shrine, dedicated to the kami of rice and fertility, is a historic Shinto site in Iwate...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, 十文字稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
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Located in the scenic town of Hiraizumi, Aomori Prefecture is not found, however, Hiraizumi, Iwate i...
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HachimanLocated in the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture,栄泽稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ri...
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AmaterasuLocated in the city of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, not Iwate, is the Dewa Sanzan Grand Shrine. The...
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HatafudaHigh-ranking Shinto priest, Matsumoto no Yasumaro, is said to have established the shrine in 701 CE....
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Sakaya no Kami多賀神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsushima, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to the go...
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Kamaishi Tsuchi no KamiLocated in the town of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, 駒形神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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RaijinRock Cave Heaven Palace, a Shinto shrine located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, is dedicate...
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Ōkunitomo no KamiLocated in the town of Miyako in Iwate Prefecture, Kōgakuji (Kōga-kuji) Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
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Mount Haku no KokamiLocated in the beautiful Iwate Prefecture, 羽黒山神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mo...
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Kūrō Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Kūro, is located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Pref...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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