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
OkuninushiThe Medicine God Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of med...
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Akita
TakamoriLocated in the heart of Akita, 鷹岡神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, or spirit...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Eight-Horned Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Akita
Bonten Ryujin AmaterasuLocated in Akita Prefecture, Eight Hump Mountain Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
Ouetsu no Kane, Ame-no-ohime, ŌkamiOuetsu no Kane Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of agriculture an...
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Akita
Ryūgūin no KamiLocated in the heart of Akita City, Ryouō Taishasu Shrine is a majestic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Akita
HachimanThe Ōgata Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosperity...
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Akita
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture,八幡神社 (Hachimangu Shrine) is one of Japan's most famous...
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Akita
YamabushiLocated in the northern prefecture of Akita, White Mountain Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedica...
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Akita
Ryūjin, TanukiKo-mori-jinja, the Bear's Cave Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to...
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Akita
Inagisama, Tamayusima三上神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami Inagisama and Tamayus...
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Akita
Shioya-no-kamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Yama Shinto Shrine is a historic site dedicated to the worship of M...
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Akita
OtohimeLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, White Mountain Princess Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...
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Akita
UkaiLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture,薬师神社 (Kanzaki Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Akita
ŌjinThe Ōdaijin Taisha, also known as the Imperial Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita, the Eight-Fold God Shrine (Hachimangu) is one of Japan's most famous...
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Akita
Satsuki, Inari OkamiInaka no Mori no Satsuki稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Oiwake, Akita Prefecture....
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Akita
AmaterasuIndra Shrine in Akita is dedicated to the Shinto god Amaterasu, and also has an enshrined deity rela...
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Akita
YakishinnyoLocated in the heart of Akita, the Yakishisai Shrine is a small Shinto shrine dedicated to the heali...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Inari Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, dedicate...
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Akita
nullMeta-mi-ira-ho-sha is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the god of agricultu...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Ōmotsu Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami Inari...
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Akita
Autumn Hall Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of the lo...
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Akita
InariLocated in the Japanese Alps, Tomidaira-san Shrine is a Shinto temple situated within the Mount Iwak...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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