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
Hokkaido
Toda no KamiTailored to the unique landscape of Hokkaido, Toda Shrine honors the kami of the region's indigenous...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Hokkaido, Daisetsu-jinsha Shrine is a majestic Shinto temple dedicated to th...
View shrine →Hokkaido
音江別神社, located in the picturesque town of Ebetsu, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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TsukuyomiThis Shinto shrine, dedicated to the god of agriculture and prosperity, is nestled in the heart of r...
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OnokamiLocated in the scenic town of Otaru, Hokkaido's former silver mining hub, 上仁井別神社 (Kamikawa-jou...
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Yamatani no OkamiGold Valley Shrine, located in Hokkaido's northern wilderness, honors the kami of gold mining and ab...
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nullGodai-ji Shrine, located in the scenic Sakhalin Island, is a Shinto shrine situated at the foot of G...
View shrine →Hokkaido
SusanooLocated in the scenic Chitose region of Hokkaido, West Lake Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Su...
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Okunishi国縫神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido Prefecture. The shrine is dedic...
View shrine →Hokkaido
SusanooLocated in the scenic town of Kitanaka, Hokkaido, Richi-no-hatsumi-yama Eight-horned Susanoo Shrine...
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Odara-tsu-kami-hoshina-gusa no KamiHokkaido's remote and rugged beauty has inspired the spiritual energy of Odara-tsu-kami-hoshina-gusa...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Izumudakami-no-kamiThe Shiroiwa Izumudakami Shrine, located on the coast of Hokkaido, is dedicated to the god of the se...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Raijin栄原金刀比羅神社, located in Sapporo's central district, is one of the oldest shrines in Hokkaido wi...
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InariLocated in the heart of rural Hokkaido, 靜狩稲荷神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the wors...
View shrine →Akandake shrine
Hokkaido
nullAkandake shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the northeastern Japanese island of Hokkaido, specific...
View shrine →Aratamasha
Hokkaido
nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Aratamasha Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the spirit...
View shrine →Asahikawa shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, Asahikawa Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Atsuma Shrine
Hokkaido
HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Atsuma, Hokkaido, Atsuma Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ka...
View shrine →Bihiro Shrine
Hokkaido
Tachibana no OkamiBihiro Shrine, located in rural Hokkaido, is a lesser-known Shinto temple dedicated to the worship o...
View shrine →Hakuryu Shin-oh
Hokkaido
HakuryuLocated in Hokkaido, the Hakuryu Shin-oh Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to the dragon d...
View shrine →Hayakita Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the scenic town of Aomori City, Hokkaido's northernmost prefecture, Hayakita Shrine is a...
View shrine →Higashimokoto Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, Higashimokoto Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to the wo...
View shrine →Hokkaido Gokoku Shrine
Hokkaido
Emperor MeijiLocated in the northernmost part of Japan, Hokkaido Gokoku Shrine is dedicated to the protection of...
View shrine →Hokkaido Jingu Shrine
Hokkaido
Emperor JimmuThe Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sapporo, the capital city of Ho...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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