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
Hokotate Shrine
Oita
A Shinto shrine located in Oita Prefecture, with a name that references 'hoko' (halberd or spear) an...
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Iwaya Shrine
Oita
Mountain and cave deitiesA cave shrine built into natural rock formations, representing the ancient Japanese tradition of sac...
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Kakikara Tenmangu Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
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Kamimusubi Shrine
Oita
Kamimusubi-no-KamiA Shinto shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Kamimusubi-no-Kami, one of the primordial creation d...
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Karasugi Tenmangu Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneKarasugi Tenmangu is a Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deif...
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Kifune Shrine
Oita
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Oita Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and is part of the broader Kifune shr...
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Kifune Shrine
Oita
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Oita Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and serves as an important spiritual...
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Kyozan Inari Shrine
Oita
Inari OkamiKyozan Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine located in Oita Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and...
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Mandokoro Tenmansha Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and polit...
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Myoseki Tenmansha
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenman shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and poet...
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Nishikanta Shrine
Oita
A historic Shinto shrine located in Oita Prefecture, known for its ancient origins and connection to...
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Oji Shrine
Oita
A Shinto shrine located in Oita Prefecture dedicated to protecting the local community and ensuring...
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Ontake Shrine
Oita
Okuninushi-no-MikotoOntake Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to mountain worship and spiritual puri...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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