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
Kotai Jingu
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiKotai Jingu is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess a...
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Kumamoto Daijingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiKumamoto Daijingu is a Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture that serves as a local center for worshi...
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Meiji Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Meiji and Empress ShokenA shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken, establish...
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Mihizuka Shrine
Gifu
Emperor NintokuMihizuka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Nintoku, the legendary 16...
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Mimo Shrine
Gifu
Emperor KeitaiMimo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Keitai, the 26th Emperor of J...
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Miyake Shrine
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Emperor Kammu and other imperial ancestorsMiyake Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Kyoto that serves as an important site for imperial wor...
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Nanpo Shrine
Kagoshima
Emperor SutokuNanpo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Sutoku, one of Japan's...
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Noda Shrine
Yamaguchi
Mori TakachikaNoda Shrine is dedicated to Mori Takachika, the last daimyo of Choshu Domain and a key figure in the...
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Nogi Shrine
Yamaguchi
General Nogi Maresuke and his wife ShizukoA shrine dedicated to General Nogi Maresuke, the famous military commander who served with distincti...
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Omiashi Shrine
Nara
Emperor JimmuOmiashi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, closely associated with Emperor Jim...
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Saiku Shrine
Gifu
Saiō spiritsA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the imperial princess who served as high priestess a...
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Shinmei Shrine
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Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei shrines are dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity of the Shinto...
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Takachiho Shrine
Kagoshima
Ninigi-no-Mikoto and related imperial deitiesTakachiho Shrine is dedicated to the legendary descent of Ninigi-no-Mikoto from the heavenly realm,...
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Takachiho Shrine Gozasho
Kagoshima
Amaterasu Omikami and associated imperial deitiesA sacred site associated with Takachiho Shrine, serving as a subsidiary location or temporary dwelli...
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Takihara-no-miya Main Hall
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Amaterasu OmikamiTakihara-no-miya is one of the auxiliary shrines (betsugu) of Ise Grand Shrine, located in the mount...
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Taruchi Shrine
Miyazaki
Prince Itsuse no MikotoA shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to Prince Itsuse no Mikoto, the elder brother of Emperor J...
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Tensho Kotaijingu
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiTensho Kotaijingu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme dei...
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Teruhi Shrine
Miyazaki
Emperor JimmuTeruhi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, Japan's legendar...
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Tokiwa Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Antoku and Taira no TomomoriA shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the tragic figures of the late Heian period, particula...
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Tomi Shrine
Nara
Emperor JimmuTomi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture associated with Emperor Jimmu, Japan's le...
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Tsuetate Kotai Jingu
Kumamoto
Amaterasu OmikamiTsuetate Kotai Jingu is a shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity o...
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Tsukihi Shrine
Nara
Sun and Moon deitiesTsukihi Shrine is dedicated to the celestial deities of the sun and moon, representing the dual forc...
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Tsukiyomi Aramitama-no-miya
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Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto (rough spirit)A subsidiary shrine within Ise Jingu that enshrines the aramitama (rough spirit) of Tsukiyomi-no-Mik...
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Tsukiyomi-no-miya
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Tsukiyomi-no-MikotoTsukiyomi-no-miya is one of the auxiliary shrines of Ise Jingu, dedicated to Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto, th...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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