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
Hachioji Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Hachioji Shrine is a Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deities. A...
View shrine →Hachioji Shrine
Gifu
Eight Prince DeitiesHachioji Shrine is dedicated to the Eight Prince Deities, legendary sons of Emperor Ojin who are ven...
View shrine →Hachioji Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)A Hachiman shrine dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deities. Hachiman shrines are...
View shrine →Hachiryu Shrine
Gifu
Eight dragon deitiesHachiryu Shrine is dedicated to eight dragon deities, representing the traditional Japanese reverenc...
View shrine →Haguro Hachimangu Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Haguro Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emperor...
View shrine →Hakkenmitsurugi Shrine
Gifu
Susanoo-no-Mikoto and the Eight Thunder GodsHakkenmitsurugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto and asso...
View shrine →Hakujusha Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'cypress tree shrine,' suggestin...
View shrine →Hakuryu Ryuju Shrine
Gifu
White Dragon deityA shrine dedicated to the worship of Hakuryū, a white dragon deity believed to bring good fortune an...
View shrine →Hakuryu Shrine
Gifu
White Dragon deityHakuryu Shrine is dedicated to a white dragon deity, representing one of Japan's many dragon-worship...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-kamiA Hakusan shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Shirayama-hime-no-kami, part of the extensive netwo...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-kamiHakusan Shrine is a local branch shrine dedicated to the deities of Mount Hakusan, one of Japan's th...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-mikotoA Hakusan shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Shirayama-hime-no-mikoto. Hakusa...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-MikotoHakusan Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Shirayama-hime-...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-mikotoA Hakusan shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the protective deity of Mount Hakusan. Part of the...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime no MikotoA Hakusan shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the white mountain deity Shirayama-hime no Mikoto....
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-mikotoA Hakusan shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Shirayama-hime-no-mikoto, part of the extensive net...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-mikotoA Hakusan shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Shirayama-hime-no-mikoto, the principal deity of Mo...
View shrine →Hakusan Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama-hime-no-mikotoA Hakusan shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Shirayama-hime-no-mikoto. Hakusa...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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