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
Mishima Jinja shrine
Niigata
Inari OkamiMishima Jinja shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the coastal town of Higashi-Mishima, Niigata Pref...
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Mishima Jinja shrine
Niigata
Sennetsuba HachimanLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Mishima Jinja shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Mishima Shrine
Niigata
InariLocated in the heart of Niigata, Mishima Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto deities and...
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Mizushima Isobe Shrine
Niigata
Isobe no OkamiLocated in the city of Sanju, Niigata Prefecture, Mizushima Isobe Shrine is a small but historic Shi...
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Munakata jinja shrine
Niigata
Shiroi-tsumiLocated in the city of Munakata, Niigata Prefecture, this shrine is dedicated to the worship of the...
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Nisshi Jinja Shrine
Niigata
TamakazuchiNisshi Jinja Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto kami of daybreak and fertility, is a significant cultur...
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Sakai Shrine
Niigata
nullSakai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Niigata City, dedicated to the kami of prosp...
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Shimosuwa Jinja Shrine
Niigata
Hachiman Ō-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Agematsu, Niigata Prefecture, Shimosuwa Jinja Shrine is dedicated to the ensh...
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Sumiyoshi Jinja shrine
Niigata
InariLocated in the city of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
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Sumiyoshi Jinjashrine
Niigata
SusanooLocated in the coastal town of Minami-Shirotori in Niigata Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Jinja Shrine is one...
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Suwa Shrine
Niigata
SuwaLocated in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Suwa Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Sh...
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Taga Jinja shrine
Niigata
HachimanTaga Jinja shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to th...
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Taga Jinja shrine
Niigata
Ryujin and InariTaga Jinja shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the wors...
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Takekoma Inari
Niigata
Inari OkamiTakekoma Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the prefecture of Niigata, dedicated to the kami...
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Tategyouji Inari Jinja shrine
Niigata
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Kitaibaraki, Niigata Prefecture, Tategyouji Inari Jinja is a Shinto shrine de...
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Tategyouji Inari Jinja shrine
Niigata
Inari OkamiTategyouji Inari Jinja shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kashiwabara, Niigata Prefect...
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Urushimiya Jinja Shrine
Niigata
OtohimeUrushimiya Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Nagaoka city of Niigata Prefecture, dedica...
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Yahiko Shrine
Niigata
Yamato no OkamiYahiko Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Yonesawa Isasumi Jinja shrine
Niigata
InariYonesawa Isasumi Jinja shrine, located in the Niigata prefecture, is a serene Shinto temple dedicate...
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Yonesawa Isasumi shrine
Niigata
Yonesawa Isasumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Yonesawa, Niigata Prefecture. Dedi...
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Yu Jinja Shrine
Niigata
nullYu Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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