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
Wish-fulfilling stone
Hokkaido
RaijinThe Wish-fulfilling stone, located in Hokkaido, is a humble Shinto shrine that dates back to the Edo...
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Yamato Shrine
Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, Yamato Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Yanbetsu Shrine
Hokkaido
nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Yanbetsu Shrine is a small but picturesque Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Yubari shrine
Hokkaido
Enokoshita-hikoboshiYubari Shrine, located in Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and prosper...
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Yugura jinja
Hokkaido
nullYugura jinja, located in the picturesque town of Shiraoi in Hokkaido's Ishikari District, is a Shint...
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Yuzawa Shrine
Hokkaido
YuzawaYuzawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Hokkaido's scenic Toya Lake region. Dedicat...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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