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
Akita
nullLocated in Akita Prefecture, Middle River Origin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Akita
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Akita, Akita Prefecture, Takamagahara Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Akita
Sugawara no MichieLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michie, a legendary sch...
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Akita
YatagarasuLocated in Akita Prefecture, 熊野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Yatagarasu, a p...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the city of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Oga Min Shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto...
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Akita
InariLocated in the city of Akita,濱町稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the god of ri...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Sanriku Inari Taisha is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dating ba...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Kuroishi, Hikaragaoka-ku, Akita City, Hikaragaoka Hachimangu Shrine is...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in the heart of Akita, 明神の社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Ryujin, the d...
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Akita
TsuchigumoLocated in the heart of Akita City, Small Item Shinto Shrine is a tranquil oasis that has been servi...
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Akita
FūjinLocated in the heart of Akita,八幡神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fortune an...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita,八幡神社 is a majestic Shinto shrine dedicated to the storm god Susano...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita city, Tottori-ike Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of rice, Inari...
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Akita
HachimanWhite Mountain Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto kami of Mount Zao, is a serene and tranquil oasis nes...
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Akita
Kumano no okamiNemuro Jinja, also known as Okurayama-son, is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Nenokata, Akita...
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Akita
HandaLocated in the heart of Akita, Katsuren Handa Shrine is a revered Shinto temple dedicated to the dei...
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Akita
HachimanSeasonal festivals and harvest celebrations are central to the worship at Seasonal Eight Hachiman Sh...
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Akita
InariLocated in the city of Akita, Yuzawa Shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and indust...
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Akita
TsuchikamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Ōdake Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of the mountain and the for...
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Akita
AkihitoLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, 友倉神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Akita
Susano-oNaruigawa Shrine, also known as 熊野神社 in Japanese, is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Akit...
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Akita
nullThe Toshioka Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of the same name....
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Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita, this Shinto shrine is a serene oasis amidst the city's bustling stree...
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Akita
Kinzan-gamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Kinzan Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of gold and p...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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