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
Sugi Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
Sugi Shrine, located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Ja...
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Sugi Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
Sugi Shrine, located in the scenic town of Nanyo, Okinawa Prefecture, is a humble Shinto shrine dedi...
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Takaoka Shrine
真庭市, 岡山県
HachimanTakaoka Shrine, located in the city of Otsuka in the Shikoku region, is dedicated to the Shinto god...
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Taki Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
Oyashiro-no-KamiLocated in Ōsafu, Okayama Prefecture, Taki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine that has been an impor...
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Taki Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
nullTaki Shrine, located in Omitama-cho, Okayama City, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of water...
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Tamaigu Toshogu Honden
岡山市, 岡山県
BenzaitenTamaigu Toshogu Honden is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of wisdom and learning, Benzaiten....
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Tamaigu Toshogu Shrine Haiden
岡山市, 岡山県
HachimanTamaigu Toshogu Shrine Haiden is a Shinto shrine located in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, dedica...
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岡山市, 岡山県
Tama no HachimanTamaigu Toshogu Torii is a Shinto shrine located in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture. The shrine is...
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Tamamitsu Inari Shrine
岡山市, 岡山県
Inari OkamiLocated in Okayama City, Tamamitsu Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosperit...
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津山市, 岡山県
Tenman Shrine, located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god...
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Tenmangu Shrine
岡山市, 岡山県
Sugawara no MichizaneTenmangu Shrine, located in Okazaki City, Okayama Prefecture, is a prominent Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Ukanomitama Shrine
岡山市, 岡山県
Inari Ōno-mikotoUkanomitama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Yamakawa Shrine
岡山市, 岡山県
Inari OkamiLocated in Okayama City, Yamakawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and pr...
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Yoshino Shrine
奈義町, 岡山県
TakemikazuchiYoshino Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Naniwa Town, Okayama Prefecture. The shrine is dedicate...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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