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
Inari OkamiThe Shiroishi Inari Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okam...
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Akita
Ryūō-ōjinLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Iwaki no Mizu-ryūō-jin Taisha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the d...
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Akita
nullLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 塞三柱神社前石碑群 is a historic site dedicated to the three pillar...
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Akita
Okami no kamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is dedicated to the kami of fertility and prospe...
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Akita
TenmanLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 芦川折林八幡神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Akita
nullLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, Toyo-no-mori Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary dedicated t...
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Akita
Ōnotō no KamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, o-Notōmyō Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice a...
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Akita
Located in the city of Yurihama, Aomori Prefecture's neighboring prefecture Akita), Shinen-ji Shrine...
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Akita
Yomegami-sha is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of fertility and...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Ryumejinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Ryuj...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture, the Shinden Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the Shingen...
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Akita
Tamayamato no Mikoto長岡森神社 (Chōgakomori Shrine) is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic Akita Prefecture, known for...
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Akita
nullNikko's famous Toshogu Shrine was not the only prominent Shinto shrine of its time in Japan. Hoko-ji...
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Akita
HachimanThe Eight-Horsed Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fe...
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Akita
Kumano okamiKumano Taisha, also known as Kumano Hongu Taisha, is a Shinto shrine located in the Kumano region of...
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Akita
縁結木 Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of natural phen...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Mingunsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity, Koyas...
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Akita
AyashinokamiAyashino Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of love and fertility...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, the small but historic Shichirōji Shrine is dedicated to t...
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Akita
Three-jijiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sanjigashinsha Shrine is a historic Shinto site that has b...
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Akita
Located in the Akita Prefecture, , or The Faithful Monument, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kam...
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Akita
RyūjinLocated in the heart of Akita, 信仰碑 Shrine is a revered Shinto site that pays homage to the region...
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Akita
Raijin (Thunder God) and Inari (Rice Goddess)The Ginginen-ta at Akita Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deities of thunder, lightning, and agricu...
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Akita
InariIshihara Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami, is one of Japan's most famous and revere...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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