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
Homusubi shirine - the fire diety
Hokkaido
Homu, fire deityLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, the Homusubi Shirine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of f...
View shrine →Horoiwa Shrine
Hokkaido
nullHoroiwa Shrine, located in the scenic town of Shikotsu-Toya National Park on the northern island of...
View shrine →Horooka Shrine
Hokkaido
HachimanLocated in the scenic coastal town of Otaru, Horooka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
View shrine →Inari shrine
Hokkaido
Inari OkamiInari Shrine, located in Hokkaido, Japan, is one of the most revered Shinto shrines dedicated to the...
View shrine →Iwanai Konpira Shrine
Hokkaido
KonpiraIwanai Konpira Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iwanai, Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicated t...
View shrine →Kagura Shrine
Hokkaido
nullKagura Shrine, located in Hokkaido, Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of music and dan...
View shrine →Kaitaku Shrine
Hokkaido
nullKaitaku Shrine, located in the scenic countryside of Hokkaido, Japan, is a Shinto sanctuary dedicate...
View shrine →Kamikawa Shrine
Hokkaido
Kamikawa Shrine, located in the scenic town of Kitanooka, Hokkaido, is a serene Shinto sanctuary ded...
View shrine →Kamimusa Shrine
Hokkaido
nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Kamimusa Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Kamisato Shrine
Hokkaido
nullLocated in the scenic city of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, Kamisato Shrine is a Shinto shrine t...
View shrine →Kamiura Shrine
Hokkaido
Kamiura Shrine, located in the heart of rural Hokkaido, is a small yet significant Shinto site dedic...
View shrine →Kamuikotan Shrine
Hokkaido
Kamuikotan Shrine, located in the scenic Lake Kamui region of Hokkaido, is a revered Shinto site ded...
View shrine →Kanamori Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Hokkaido, Kanamori Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto site dedicated to the wor...
View shrine →Kawanishi Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the picturesque town of Kawanishi, Hokkaido, Kawanishi Shrine is a serene Shinto temple d...
View shrine →Kerochi Shrine
Hokkaido
nullKerochi Shrine, located in the scenic town of Kuroshio, Hokkaido, is a lesser-known Shinto shrine de...
View shrine →Kiyosato Shrine
Hokkaido
Kiyosato Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Kiyosato Village of Etsu District, Hokkaido. As on...
View shrine →Koshimizu Shurine
Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic town of Otaru, Hokkaido's largest city, Koshimizu Shrine is a historic Shinto...
View shrine →Miyatsubentengu Shrine
Hokkaido
TsuchigumoMiyatsubentengu Shrine, located in the heart of Hokkaido, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to Bent...
View shrine →Nakashibetsu Shrine
Hokkaido
TsunokamiNakashibetsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, and is dedicated to...
View shrine →Nemuro Izumo Shrine
Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Nemuro, Hokkaido, Nemuro Izumo Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Inari O...
View shrine →Nemuro Kotohira Shrine
Hokkaido
Inari OkamiNemuro Kotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Nemuro region of Hokkaido, Japan. The shrin...
View shrine →Nikura Hachiman Shurine
Hokkaido
HachimanNikura Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the beautiful Rishiri Island, Hokkaido. Dedicat...
View shrine →Nishigoryochi Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the scenic town of Rumoi, Hokkaido, Nishigoryochi Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine...
View shrine →Nishikura Shrine
Hokkaido
nullLocated in the scenic town of Shiroishi, Hokkaido's second-largest city, Nishikura Shrine is a rever...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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