Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

田原神社

Okayama

Inari Ō no Kami

Tada no Kannon-gū, also known as Tadayu Shrine, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inari Ō no...

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堅山八幡神社

Okayama

Hachiman Ōkami

Bizen Kōzanji Hachiman-gū, also known as Bizen Kōzanji Taisha, is a Shinto shrine located in the cit...

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桃太郎神社

Okayama

Tatewari no Okami

桃太郎神社は、岡山県の主要な神社で、地域の住民が信仰している神である桃太郎大神を祀る。神社は江戸時代...

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重林寺

Okayama

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Rei Shin-ji Temple, located in the heart of Okayama Prefecture, is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated...

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大光院

Okayama

Bigakuin Shrine in Okayama is dedicated to the deified spirit of Takamori Saigo, a samurai leader wh...

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万福寺

Okayama

Wan Fuku

Wan Fuku-ji, located in the heart of Okayama Prefecture, is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to Wan...

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湯屋八幡宮

Okayama

Hachiman

Tsuyamaya Hachiman-gu is a Shinto shrine located in Okayama Prefecture, dedicated to the god of war...

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延命寺

Okayama

Shimo no Ōkami

Located in the heart of Okayama,延命寺 is a historic Shinto shrine that has stood for over 800 years...

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本教寺

Okayama

Benzaiten

Located in the city of Okayama, Bonten-ji Temple is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...

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金刀比羅宮逢拝所

Okayama

Kinzu Bitobiro Jyaoumei

Kinzu Bitobiro Jyaoumei Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Okayama Prefecture, dedicated to the de...

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弥高山神社

Okayama

Mikazuchi

Miya High Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Mikazuchi, who is believed to res...

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瑞泉院

Okayama

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Located in the heart of Okayama Prefecture, 瑞泉院 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...

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中蔵院

Okayama

Michizane

Located in the heart of Okayama Prefecture, the Middle Temple Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine ded...

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清水観音堂

Okayama

Clear Water Hall Temple is a historic Shinto shrine located in Okayama Prefecture, dedicated to the...

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寺社

Okayama

Located in the heart of Okayama Prefecture, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to a local kami believed...

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寺社

Okayama

null

Located in the heart of Okayama, this Shinto shrine has been a significant cultural and historical l...

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天満宮

Okayama

Tenman

Tennan-ya, a Shinto shrine in Okayama Prefecture dedicated to the kami of prosperity and good fortun...

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寺社

Okayama

Located in the heart of Okayama, this Shinto shrine is deeply rooted in the region's history and cul...

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上御領八幡神社

Okayama

Hachiman

Upper Head Shrine of Hachiman is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Hachiman, who is revered as...

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寺社

Okayama

null

Located in the heart of Okayama Prefecture, Temple is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the venera...

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榎本神社

Okayama

Tasumi-no-tsurugi

Tasumi-no-mikoto Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice and fertility, is located in Okayama...

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龍光院

Okayama

Hachiman-gami

Located in the Okayama Prefecture, Ryongakuin Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the de...

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於奠神社

Okayama

於奠神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. The shrine's name, w...

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寺社

Okayama

This Shinto shrine in Okayama Prefecture is dedicated to the kami of the forest, with a focus on nat...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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