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
Okushinada Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)A local Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deit...
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Omitama Shrine
Gifu
Spirits of the deceasedOmitama Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the veneration of omitama, the spi...
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Omiwa Shrine
Gifu
Okuninushi no MikotoOmiwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, an important deity associated wit...
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Ono Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
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Ontake Shrine
Gifu
Ontake no KamiOntake Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Mount Ontake, one of Japan's sacred mou...
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Ontake Shrine
Gifu
Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto and mountain kamiA mountain shrine dedicated to the worship of Mount Ontake, one of Japan's sacred peaks. The shrine...
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Ontake Shrine
Gifu
Ontake no KamiOntake Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Mount Ontake, one of Japan's sacred mountains. The shri...
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Ote Shrine
Gifu
Ote Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving as a local spiritual center for th...
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Owaki Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiOwaki Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun g...
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Ozato Hachiman Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)A Hachiman shrine located in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated de...
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Rokusha Shrine
Gifu
Rokusha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'Six Shrines,' sugge...
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Rokusha Shrine
Gifu
Rokusha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture whose name literally means 'Six Companies Shrin...
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Rokusho-gu Shrine
Gifu
Six enshrined deitiesRokusho-gu is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture that enshrines six deities, as indicated by its nam...
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Ryu Shrine
Gifu
Dragon deity (Ryujin)A Shinto shrine dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the deep connection between Japanese spiritu...
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Ryu Shrine
Gifu
Dragon deity (Ryujin)A Shinto shrine dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the important role of dragon worship in Japa...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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