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
Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, a powerful kami associated with wind, water, and...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-mikotoSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-mikoto, the deity of war, hunting, and a...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, a powerful kami associated with wind, water, and...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, the deity of wind, water, and ag...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-mikotoSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-mikoto, a powerful deity associated with...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, a powerful kami associated with wind, water, and...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, a powerful kami associated with...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-KamiSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Kami, a powerful deity associated with w...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, the deity of wind, water, and ag...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kanagawa
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Takeminakata-no-Mikoto, the deity of wind, water, and ag...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kochi
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is a local branch of the Suwa faith, dedicated to the warrior deity...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kochi
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is a branch shrine of the famous Suwa Taisha in Nagano Prefecture. L...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kochi
Takeminakata-no-MikotoSuwa Shrine in Kochi Prefecture is a local branch of the Suwa shrine network, dedicated to the warri...
View shrine →Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-kamiSuwa Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture is dedicated to Takeminakata-no-kami, the deity of wind, water, a...
View shrine →Tanasoko Suwa Shrine
Kumamoto
Takeminakata-no-MikotoA local Suwa shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Takeminakata-no-Mikoto. Li...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.