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
Agata Shrine
Gifu
Emperor OjinAgata Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to Emperor Ojin (Hond...
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Akaboshi Shrine
Gifu
Stellar deities and celestial kamiA Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to stellar deities and astronomical worship. T...
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Akiba Daigongen Shrine
Gifu
Akiba Daigongen (fire deity)A shrine dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a powerful fire deity in Japanese folk religion. Akiba worshi...
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Akiba Shrine
Gifu
Akiba DaigongenAkiba Shrine is dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a fire deity revered for protection against fires and...
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Akiba Shrine
Gifu
Hinokagutsuchi no MikotoAkiba Shrine is dedicated to fire prevention and safety, enshrining the fire deity Hinokagutsuchi no...
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Akiba Shrine
Gifu
Akiba DaigongenAkiba Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a syncretic d...
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Akiba Shrine
Gifu
Akiba DaigongenAkiba Shrine is dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a fire deity venerated for protection against fire dis...
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Akiba Shrine
Gifu
Akiba DaigongenAkiba Shrine is dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a fire deity originally worshipped at Akiba Shrine in...
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Akiba Shrine
Gifu
Akiba DaigongenAkiba Shrine is dedicated to Akiba Daigongen, a Shinto deity associated with fire prevention and pro...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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