Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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.

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30,440 shrines found

夷神社

Niigata

Tamayama-no-Kami

Located in the Niigata Prefecture, 夷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the valley and...

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諏訪神社

Niigata

Enma Daiōjin

諏訪神社, located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine that honors the kami Enma D...

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神明社

Niigata

Godai

The Godai Shrine, located in the scenic town of Minami-Niigata, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...

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歌代神社

Niigata

Hachiman

Located in the city of Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Koya-dai Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...

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神明宮

Niigata

Gamyōinokami

The Godai-ma Shrine, located in the Niigata prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Gamyōinokam...

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神明宮

Niigata

Hachiman

Located in the prefecture of Niigata, Godai Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Hachiman, the go...

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粟山諏訪神社

Niigata

Komachi-no-Kami

粟山諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, known for its connec...

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神明神社

Niigata

Godai Okuninushi

Located in the city of Murakami, Niigata Prefecture, Godai Jinsha Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...

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稲荷神社

Niigata

Inari Okami

Located in the heart of Niigata, Inari Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines dedicated...

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子の宮神社

Niigata

Mother Goddess

Subo no Miyajinsha is a Shinto shrine located in Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of childb...

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羽黒神社

Niigata

Located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Haku Black Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto site dedicate...

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神明社

Niigata

null

Godaiji Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata City, is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the ka...

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石祇

Niigata

Inari

Located in the Sanriku coastal region of Niigata Prefecture, the Stone Statue Shrine (Tani no Kan) i...

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諏訪神社

Niigata

Located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, Tonboji-temple, not to be confused with Tonboji, is...

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諏訪神社

Niigata

Tori-no-Ie

located in the heart of Niigata City, Tonaseki-Tonaseki-Tonaseki-Tonaseki-Tonaseki-Tonaseki Tonaseki...

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大山祇神社

Niigata

Hachiman

Located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, the Omiya Hachiman Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedic...

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神明宮

Niigata

Kami no Kōtai

The Godai Jingū is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Niigata, dedicated to the deity of the re...

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古峯神社

Niigata

Located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, Furikawa-ji Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to t...

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神明宮

Niigata

Located in the city of Yokohama, Godai Jingu is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dedicated to A...

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白山神社

Niigata

Utsukushiyama

Located in the picturesque town of Minamiuonuma, White Mountain Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shin...

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諏訪社

Niigata

Ōno-goriŌ

諏訪社 Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kuroisawa, Niigata Prefecture. The shrine is...

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三宮神社

Niigata

null

Located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Sanmiya Shrine is one of the most revered Shinto shrines...

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智光坊

Niigata

Shinmei

Located in the Niigata Prefecture, 智光坊 Shrine is a serene oasis nestled amidst rolling hills and...

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神明宮

Niigata

Godai Makoto

Godai no Makoto Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Godai Makoto,...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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