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
Shiga
Ryūgūjin, Ryūō no KamiLocated in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, White Dragon Shrine is dedicated to the water deity...
View shrine →Shiga
OkuninushiLocated in the city of Nagahama, 瘡神 Shrine is a significant Shinto site dedicated to Okuninushi, t...
View shrine →Shiga
Inari Ō no KamiLocated in the city of Ehime, this shrine is dedicated to the god of protection and good fortune, as...
View shrine →Shiga
BenzaitenLocated in Shiga Prefecture, 弁財天 Shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten, the Shinto goddess of wealth,...
View shrine →Shiga
BenzaitenLocated in the city of Omi-ya, Shiga Prefecture, 弁財天 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Buddhist...
View shrine →Shiga
InariGrey Forest Shrine, located in the scenic town of Echizen, is a serene and tranquil Shinto oasis nes...
View shrine →Shiga
Susanoo-no-MikotoSanetsusenmori Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. The shrine is fa...
View shrine →Shiga
TenjinLocated in the town of Jinhanagokō, Shiga Prefecture, Tenjin Hikinagoshin Shrine is a small but hist...
View shrine →Shiga
TakemikazuchiLocated in the city of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture's neighboring Shiga Prefecture is home to Matsuzaka...
View shrine →Shiga
AgedaemonokamiLocated in the city of Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture was previously in Shiga Prefecture, High Altitude...
View shrine →Shiga
Inari ŌkamiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, but we have been given information on a Shrine na...
View shrine →Shiga
HikamiThe Hikami no Kami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Mino, Shiga Prefecture. The shri...
View shrine →Shiga
Located in the heart of Nagahama, Omiwa Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto shri...
View shrine →Shiga
Located in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, 菊理姫神 Shrine is a small but historic Shinto sh...
View shrine →Shiga
Katsushika-no-kamiKokuryu-ji, located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...
View shrine →Shiga
ŌkuninushiLocated in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, 熊野樟日神 Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the S...
View shrine →Shiga
HachimanLonghamabashi Hachiman-gu is a Shinto shrine located in the Katsuyama district of Echizen City, Shig...
View shrine →Shiga
The Toyo no Kokō Jinsha is a Shinto shrine located in Nagaoka, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the ka...
View shrine →Shiga
Highway Tamagawa Shrine, located in the town of Katsuta on the eastern coast of Lake Biwa in Shiga P...
View shrine →Shiga
SusanooLocated in the city of Omiya, Shiga Prefecture, Tenman-ji Shrine is dedicated to the god Susanoo-no-...
View shrine →Shiga
HachimanRyugenji, a Shigakatsu shrine located in the Fujiwara family's ancestral home, was rebuilt at Eiheij...
View shrine →Shiga
The Eiheiji Temple's subsidiary shrine, dedicated to the rice god Inari Okami. This shrine is famous...
View shrine →Shiga
Kuha-no-KamiKuha-jinja Shrine in Shiga Prefecture is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to Kuha-no-Kami, a Shin...
View shrine →Shiga
SukunahikonaLocated in Shiga Prefecture, Eight Sacs Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the eight...
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.