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
Located in the city of Akita, Higojima Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice...
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Susanoo-no-mikotoIndo-Tibetan Buddhist priest, Sakyamuni Buddha's image is enshrined at Dewa Sanzan's Kammachi Shrine...
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HizorimaruLocated in the town of Osawa, Akita Prefecture, Kinoda Hizorimaru Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicate...
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InariLocated in the city of Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, Sanrizuka Inari Shrine is a well-preserved exam...
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TsukuyomiThe Zao Reigensha Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship o...
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OnigamiThe Akita Shrine, dedicated to the onmyodo deity Onigami, is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefec...
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EbisuLocated in Akita Prefecture, 熊野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the god Ebisu,...
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Inari OkamiBoxwood Cave Shrine, located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicate...
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Yamabiko-no-kamiMoon Mountain Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity of wisdom and fertility...
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InariYuzawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Akita Prefecture, dedicated to Inari Okami, th...
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TenjinHakushin-gu Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of wind and lightning, is located in Akita...
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HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita City, Ifukube-cho's Asahi-machi, Wakamuya-jinja is a historic Shinto s...
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Located in the heart of Akita, 御嶽神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of a lo...
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InariLocated in the heart of Akita's Higashi-Kamikawa district, Gokuraku-ji Shinmei-ya (also known as Uts...
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Inari Okami下米町稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the rural town of 下米町, Akita Prefecture. As one of t...
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Daitatsu no OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Daizakura Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Daitatsu no Okami...
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KanayamagoshiThe Kinsho-ji Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deities of pr...
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Dayo no KamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Dayo-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of prosperit...
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Inari ŌkamiInakifuku Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Ōkami, the god...
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Inari藤稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and fertility. Located in t...
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Akita no Amatsu MikabeLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 明池山長福院 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to Longev...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita city, Hanamachi Aitakamano-shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Mizu no KamiWater Spirit Shrine dedicated to the kami of water, located in Akita Prefecture. The shrine's archit...
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IzanagiAkita Daijingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Izanagi and located in Akita, Japan'...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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