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
Hikawa Shrine
さいたま市, 埼玉県
Hikawa no OkuniLocated in the heart of Saitama City, Hikawa Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the worship o...
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Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine
川越市, 埼玉県
HachimanLocated in the historic city of Kawagoe, Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine is a renowned Shinto shrine dedic...
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Kumano Shrine
川越市, 埼玉県
nullLocated in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fer...
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Miwa Shrine
三郷市, 埼玉県
Tamayama no OkamiLocated in Saitama Prefecture, Miwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and...
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Miyoshino Shrine
川越市, 埼玉県
nullMiyoshino Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, and is one of the oldest...
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Musashino Reiwa Shrine
所沢市, 埼玉県
Musashi MichiLocated in the heart of Musashino, the name 'Reiwa' signifies the current emperor's reign, demonstra...
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Nizoten Shrine
三郷市, 埼玉県
NizoenNizoten Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Saitama Prefecture, known as the 'Temple of Wealth'. Th...
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Saitama-ken Gokoku Shrine
さいたま市, 埼玉県
Kamakura-gotenSaitama-ken Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, dedicated...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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