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
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi kami)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi kami, ancient Shinto deities...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi sea deities who are revered...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kochi
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)Sumiyoshi Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, ancient Shinto kam...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kanagawa
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three Sumiyoshi deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi kami, ancient Shinto deit...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Kanagawa
Sumiyoshi Sanjin (three sea deities)A Sumiyoshi shrine dedicated to the three sea deities known collectively as Sumiyoshi Sanjin. These...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine (Shioji, Miyazaki)
Miyazaki
Sumiyoshi Sanjin - three sea deities of purification and safe voyagesA Sumiyoshi shrine located in the Shioji area of Miyazaki City, dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi dei...
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Tsumori Shrine
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Sumiyoshi SanjinTsumori Shrine is historically associated with the Sumiyoshi faith and the ancient Tsumori clan who...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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