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
Sannohe Daijingu
Aomori
SusanooLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Sannohe Daijingu Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most historic Shi...
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Shiogama Shrine
Aomori
ŌishidanaShiogama Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fishing an...
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Sozen Shrine
Aomori
SozenSozen Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of storms and fe...
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Takayama Inari Shrine
Aomori
Inari OkamiTakayama Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice, prosperity, and fertility, lo...
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Tanabu Shrine
Aomori
InariTanabu Shrine, located in the Oirase Valley of Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to th...
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Tokusari Hachiman Shrine
Aomori
HachimanTokusari Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Aomori City, honoring the deitie...
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Towada Shrine
Aomori
TowadaTowada Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Oirase, Aomori Prefecture. The shrine is ded...
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Tsubaki Shrine
Aomori
nullLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Tsubaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of flowers, pa...
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Utou shrine
Aomori
SugisakimaruLocated in the city of Aomori, Japan, Utou Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Sugisaki...
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Wakinosawahachimangu Shrine
Aomori
HachimanWakinosawahachimangu Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god H...
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Yagurazakifudoson Shrine
Aomori
Fudo Myo-OLocated in the scenic city of Aomori, Yagurazakifudoson Shrine is a Shinto temple that honors the go...
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Yamagi Shrine
Aomori
TsukuyomiLocated in the heart of Aomori, Yamagi Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of the sea an...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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