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
Fukumori Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiFukumori Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and prospe...
View shrine →Gomejoshi Yatsurugisha Shrine
Gifu
Yamata-no-Orochi and associated deitiesA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to deities associated with the legendary eight-headed,...
View shrine →Goromaru Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiGoromaru Shinmei Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami,...
View shrine →Gosha Daimyojin Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to five major kami, as indicated by its name 'Gosha' me...
View shrine →Gosha Shrine
Gifu
Gosha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'Five Company Shrine,'...
View shrine →Goshiki Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, whose name translates to 'Five Colors Shrine,' suggestin...
View shrine →Gosho Shrine
Gifu
Gosho Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'Five Places Shrine,'...
View shrine →Hachiken Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman-shin (deity of war and archery)Hachiken Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the deity of war,...
View shrine →Hachiken Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman-jin (deity of war and divine protection)Hachiken Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the war deity Hachiman....
View shrine →Hachiken Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionHachiken Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Hachiman. The...
View shrine →Hachiken Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman-shin (God of War and Divine Protection)Hachiken Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Hachiman. The...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, god of war and divine protector of JapanHachiman Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, one of the most w...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman no Kami)A Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, revered as the god of wa...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, widely venerated as the...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, revered as the god of wa...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, widely venerated as the...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, the divine spirit of Emperor Ojin and god of warA Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, revered as the god of wa...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hondawake-no-Mikoto)A Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin, revered as the divine protector of w...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, god of war and divine protector of JapanA local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the warrior deity Hachiman. Hachiman shrines...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)A Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated with divin...
View shrine →Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, god of war and divine protector of Japan 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.