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
SukayuLocated in the city of Akita, Godaijinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice and prosp...
View shrine →Akita
nullLocated in the city of Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, Kusakabe Sango Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
View shrine →Akita
Inari Okappara-sanLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Iwaki Okappara Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shi...
View shrine →Akita
Oho no Kamikami, Kaminarimonogatari no KamiOne-day City Shrine, located in the heart of Akita city, is dedicated to the Shinto deities Oho no K...
View shrine →Akita
Tsukiyomi and Kamo no OtohimeLocated in the heart of Akita City, Eight Humps Rice Granary Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicat...
View shrine →Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, 大野台金泽八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god Hachiman, pa...
View shrine →Akita
MichizaneOutō-dan Shrine, located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of agr...
View shrine →Akita
Bishamon TenjinLocated in Akita Prefecture,若宮八幡神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Bishamon...
View shrine →Akita
OkageThe Okage-yokocho Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the god of food, Okage, and the god of...
View shrine →Akita
Shitennō-ji-gokokuinThe Shitennō-ji in Akita is a historic Shinto shrine that has been an important site of worship sinc...
View shrine →Akita
InariLocated in the city of Akita, Akita-dera Inari Shrine is one of Japan's oldest shrines dedicated to...
View shrine →Akita
Inari OkamiSnake's Ridge Inari Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...
View shrine →Akita
Three-jigashi ( San-jigashi)Located in the heart of Akita, three-jigashi-shinsha tsuho-hon-miya is one of Japan's oldest and mos...
View shrine →Akita
SanbijiSanbiji-daikami Shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated...
View shrine →Akita
HachimanNorthward Forest Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in the Tako Park of Akita City, is dedicated to the...
View shrine →Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to the worship of the kami of agricul...
View shrine →Akita
Inari OkamiHokutoji Shrine, dedicated to the deity Inari Okami, is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture....
View shrine →Akita
Kagami no OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 鹿嶋神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the water goddess, Kagami...
View shrine →Akita
InariIndochira Shrine, located in the Akita Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines dedicated...
View shrine →秋田県大仙市豊川字観音堂57番, Akita
Sui-no-MikotoWater Spirit Shrine, dedicated to the kami of water and agriculture, is located in Akita Prefecture'...
View shrine →Akita
ŌkuninushiLongen-ji Temple, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of fertilit...
View shrine →Akita
nullThe Sanjigijinsha shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the kami of good luck and prosperity, p...
View shrine →Akita
nullHigh Forest Shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the...
View shrine →Akita
IndohakaLocated in Akita Prefecture, Indohakamagahara Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fert...
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.