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
Akita
Oshinoyama no Kami, Iwami no KamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Taijinja Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, with...
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Akita
Inari OkamiThe Inari Shrine in Akita is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Shinto god of rice, fertility, and pro...
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Akita
Iwaki no OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 保呂羽山波宇志別神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mo...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, 保呂羽山本宮波宇志別神社 (Hachiman-sonboe no Uchi Shimashiro Shrine) is...
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Akita
Okuninushi no KamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Kinai-jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to Okuninushi n...
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Akita
TamashiiLocated in the city of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, the Tomi no Okami Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Akita
GoshinshaGoshinsha Shrine, dedicated to the deity of protection and longevity, is a historic Shinto shrine lo...
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Akita
UnknownLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Gyozawa Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto kami of fertilit...
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Akita
Amaterasu, Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Tangosha Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of Amater...
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Akita
ŌkuninushiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 森子大物忌神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
Yamabiko-OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Dayo Jinsha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
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Akita
Inari Okami菅原神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami Inari Okami. The shri...
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Akita
OkamiInakadate Shrine, dedicated to Inazuma Okami and Jishu Yamatsumi, is one of Japan's most famous rice...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture, Taishi Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, dating back to the...
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Akita
The Ōdai Ryūjinsha Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu an...
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Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita, White Mountain Shrine (, Shiranesan-jinsha) is a prominent Shinto sit...
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Akita
OgamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Village Town Odate Toguchi Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto kami of ri...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoResidence of God Shrine and Eight-Step Shrine, a historic Shinto complex in Akita Prefecture, dedica...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in the heart of Akita, Sanlight Shrine is a sacred Shinto site dedicated to the worship of R...
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Akita
InariThe Honji-dera, a famous Buddhist temple in Nara, influenced the construction of many Japanese templ...
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Akita
Amaterasu OkamiLove Temple Shrine, located in the heart of Akita, is dedicated to Amaterasu Okami, the sun goddess...
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Akita
Korikozasa no MikotoKorikozasa Misaki Shrine, also known as Akita-ichi Shinsho Taisha, is a Shinto shrine located in Aki...
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Akita
Ohoi, AmaterasuThe Mizusawa-jinja Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity of rice and agricu...
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Akita
InariOpened in 1588, Open Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Akita city, serving...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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