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
Ryusui Shrine
Kochi
Dragon water deityA local shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to water and dragon deities. The name Ryusui literally...
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Sabai Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, known for its local spiritual significance and connecti...
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Sakihama Hachiman Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Sakihama Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified...
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Sakura Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Sanmen Ryuo Daigongen Shrine
Kochi
Three-faced Dragon KingA shrine dedicated to the Three-faced Dragon King, a powerful deity associated with water, rain, and...
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Sasaki Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding co...
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Sasaoka Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding co...
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Sasayama Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Sasayama Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emperor O...
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Sekinan Shrine
Kochi
Local protective deitySekinan Shrine is a local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving as a community spiritua...
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Shimamiya Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Shimamiya Shrine
Kochi
A Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the local community with traditional religious...
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Shinbo Shrine
Kochi
Divine Mother deityShinbo Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to a divine mother figure. The...
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Shinbo Shrine
Kochi
Local protective deityA local Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to protective deities. The name 'Shinbo' (神母)...
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Shingu Shrine Okunomiya
Kochi
Kumano GongenShingu Shrine Okunomiya is the inner sanctuary of Shingu Shrine located in Kochi Prefecture. As an '...
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Shinmei Shrine
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddes...
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Shinmei Shrine
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddes...
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Shinmei Shrine
Kochi
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddes...
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Kochi
Sarutahiko no OkamiA Shinto shrine in Kochi Prefecture dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, the guardian deity of crossroa...
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Shisha Shrine Kumano Shrine
Kochi
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA combined shrine complex in Kochi Prefecture that houses both Shisha Shrine and Kumano Shrine under...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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