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
Sanji-gi no MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sanjigishinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Sa...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita City, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and his...
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Akita
Tamayama no OkamiEstablished in the Heian period, Shiwase Shrine is a sacred site in Akita Prefecture dedicated to th...
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Akita
SusanooLocated in the Akita Prefecture, the Eight Horseshoe Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Susanoo,...
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Akita
San-gi-sanSan-gi-jinja Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of justice and fa...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Godaijin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of learnin...
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Akita
Ryujin-no-KamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, 才ノ神神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of agriculture and...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-KamiAnciently known as 'Hikusa', the ancient village of Hikusaka in Akita Prefecture is said to be the o...
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Akita
Tsuchi-no-KamiLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, 觀音森神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fores...
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Akita
nullThe Stone Monument Group, a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, is believed to be dedicated to the ka...
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Akita
Kuri-O-no-KamiLocated in the Higashi-Akita District of Akita Prefecture, Kōgēn'jinsha (Ancient Waterfall Shrine) i...
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Akita
Gokoen-zukaiGokoen-sha Cobi Shrine, dedicated to the kami Gokoen-zukai, is a Shinto shrine located in the Akita...
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Akita
Kawatarazuka no KamiTooeda Mibiki-sha is a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the forest and it...
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Akita
InariLocated in the heart of Akita, 才ノ神神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
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Akita
HikobōKobeyama Shrine, located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in the heart of Akita, Jono Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Ryujin and the s...
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Akita
Ryūgūin no KamiLocated in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, Ryōgūjinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryūgūin no...
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Akita
OtohimeLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, 才ノ神 Shrine is a Shinto site dedicated to the kami of agri...
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Akita
Kazuma-kamiThe Kason-jinja Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of agriculture a...
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Akita
Shiroi Tsurugi no KamiHakuno Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god of wisdom and education, Shiroi Tsu...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita, Shinmei-ya Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the worship...
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Akita
Mt. HakkodakeAncient Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, said to be founded in 1604 as a...
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Akita
Iwakikami no OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture,古峰神社碑 is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Moun...
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Akita
RaijinLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Naitōtenō-bi is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Raijin, the g...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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