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
Saiku Shrine
Gifu
Saiō spiritsA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the imperial princess who served as high priestess a...
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Sakae Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiSakae Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and prosperit...
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Sakaguchi Shrine
Gifu
A local Shinto shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding com...
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Sakura Tenmangu Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and patro...
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Sanbo Daikojin Shrine
Gifu
Sanbo Kojin (Three Treasures Rough Deity)A shrine dedicated to Sanbo Kojin, a fierce protective deity in Japanese folk religion who guards th...
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Sanjubanshin Shrine
Gifu
Thirty Guardian DeitiesA Shinto shrine dedicated to the Thirty Guardian Deities (Sanjūbanshin), protective kami associated...
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Sanko Inari Shrine
Gifu
Ukanomitama-no-kamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the harvest deity and prosperity. Like other In...
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Sanko Shrine
Gifu
Fox deities and Inari OkamiSanko Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to fox deities. The name 'Sanko' m...
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Sanno Shrine
Gifu
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Sanno shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami. Sanno shrines ar...
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Sansha Daimyojin Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to three major kami, as indicated by its name 'Sansha D...
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Seisho Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the kami of rice, prosperity, and business succ...
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Shimakawa Inari Shrine
Gifu
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, fertilit...
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Shinmei Daiichi Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Daiichi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun...
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Shinmei Ikuta Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinmei shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and chief deity...
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Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and principal deity of the Shinto...
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Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity...
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Shinmei Shrine
Gifu
Amaterasu OmikamiShinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and principal deit...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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