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
Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiAn Inari shrine dedicated to the kami of rice, agriculture, and prosperity. Like other Inari shrines...
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Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, sake, ag...
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Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, fertilit...
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Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari Okami, deity of rice, fertility, and prosperityAn Inari shrine dedicated to the worship of Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, sake, fertility,...
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Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari Okami, deity of rice, sake, agriculture, and prosperityA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, agricult...
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Ishi Shrine
Gifu
Ishi Jinja is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name translates to 'Stone Shrine,' suggesting...
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Jaike Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name translates to 'Snake Pond Shrine,' suggesting hi...
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Junisho Shrine
Gifu
Twelve protective deitiesA shrine dedicated to the twelve protective deities (junisho), which are Shinto manifestations of Bu...
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Junisho Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the twelve guardian deities. The name 'Junisho' lite...
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Kagutsuchi Shrine
Gifu
Kagutsuchi-no-kamiA shrine dedicated to Kagutsuchi, the Shinto fire deity whose birth caused the death of Izanami in J...
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Kajitani Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protection View shrine →
Kajiya Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman no Kami)A local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deit...
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Kamichikama Shrine
Gifu
Local protective deitiesA local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that serves the spiritual needs of the surrounding communit...
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Kamichikama Shrine
Gifu
Local protective deityA local Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to protective deities of the community. The shrin...
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Kamo Shrine
Gifu
Kamo deitiesA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the Kamo deities. Part of the broader network of Kam...
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Kanie Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiKanie Shinmei Shrine is a Shinmei shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme...
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Kasuga Shrine
Gifu
Takemikazuchi-no-mikotoKasuga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the same deities as the famous Kasu...
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Kasuga Shrine
Gifu
Takemikazuchi-no-mikotoA local Kasuga shrine in Gifu Prefecture, part of the network of shrines associated with the famous...
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Kasuga Shrine
Gifu
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesA local Kasuga shrine in Gifu Prefecture, part of the network of shrines dedicated to the Kasuga dei...
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Kasugayama Benzaiten Shrine
Gifu
Benzaiten (goddess of water, music, and wisdom)A shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the Buddhist goddess who became integrated into Shinto worship as a...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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