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
Hokkaido
Yamato-yukihimeLocated in the picturesque town of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, True Birth Shrine is a serene and pe...
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Hokkaido
Inari Okamisan厳島神社 is a Shinto shrine located on Sakhalin Island, but it is often mistakenly associated with H...
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Hokkaido
MizuchiLocated in the scenic town of Furubetsu, Hokkaido's Water Rich Rice Shrine, also known as Mizufuri I...
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Hokkaido
Inari ŌkamiLocated in Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Inari Okappi Shrine is dedicated to Inari Ōkami, the Shinto god of...
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Hokkaido
Kagami BocchiLocated in the heart of Hakodate City, Fire Mountain Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity known a...
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Hokkaido
Kuma-gamiNemuro Bear Shrine, located in Nemuro City, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the bear kami,...
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Hokkaido
Sugawara no MichizaneScholar's God, Sugawara no Michizane is enshrined in this Shinto shrine in Hokkaido. The shrine was...
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Hokkaido
Longan Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Hakodate, Hokkaido. It is dedicated to the k...
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Hokkaido
SarabamajiLong-nest Lake Sarabamajinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the deity of rice, fertility, an...
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Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, Pray Offering Counter Shrine is a serene oasis in the midst of the...
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Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Hokkaido,古いお札・お守り納所 (Old Token Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Hokkaido
The Zabuto Mine Shrine, also known as the Zappu Mine Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in Chitose,...
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Hokkaido
Mamoroto-no-okiLocated in the picturesque town of Akan, on the island of Hokkaido, Murodoki-jinja Shrine is dedicat...
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Hokkaido
nullLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Okotobushi no ma shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Hokkaido
Handwater Shack Shrine, located in the scenic town of Kushiro, Hokkaido, is a tranquil retreat that...
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Hokkaido
OkuninushiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido,札幌神...
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Hokkaido
Located in the heart of rural Hokkaido, 狸神社 (Tanuki Shrine) is a tranquil Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Hokkaido
InariMitaniinari Shrine is a small Shinto shrine located in the rural area of Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicated...
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Hokkaido
Located in the northernmost prefecture of Japan, Hokkaido, this Shinto shrine is a lesser-known yet...
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Hokkaido
nullJukutai Shinto Shrine, located in the heart of rural Hokkaido, is a lesser-known yet fascinating sit...
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Hokkaido
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest metropolis, Gold Mine Shrine is a Shinto shrine d...
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Hokkaido
Located in the scenic city of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest metropolis, Today's Shrine is dedicated to...
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Hokkaido
Yuki no Okami氷川神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Hokkaido, Japan, dedicated to the worship of the kami Yuki no...
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Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Sapporo,若松神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the god of ric...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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