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
Ise Grand Shrine is located in Kurokawa, Mihara District, Shizuoka Prefecture, not Akita. However, t...
View shrine →Akita
Ise Grand Shrine is the oldest and most revered Shinto shrine in Japan, located on the island of Hon...
View shrine →Akita
Ōjin, AmaterasuIse Grand Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. Dedicat...
View shrine →Akita
Amaterasu ŌmikamiThe Tenmoku Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to Amaterasu Ōmikami, the Shinto sun g...
View shrine →Akita
Ao no Hime (Green-faced Princess)Located in the heart of Akita, the Ao no Hime no Mikasa Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
View shrine →Akita
Hachiman-guLocated in Akita Prefecture, the shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of war and prosperity, known...
View shrine →Akita
Kunitsutsutsu no OkamiThe Lantern Shrine in Akita Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fire and light, n...
View shrine →Akita
nullTakagamine Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deities of agric...
View shrine →Akita
TakamagaharaThe Kijimai Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god of hunting, Takamagahara, and...
View shrine →Akita
Shikoku-fu-jūThe Shikoku-fu-jū (狛犬) Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto kami, a legendary dog...
View shrine →Akita
Located in the city of Yonai, Akita Prefecture, the Torii Lantern Shrine is a small Shinto shrine de...
View shrine →Akita
InariThe Lantern Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami. This...
View shrine →Akita
Kami no HitoThe Shirakami Shintō shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the kami of the Shirakami Mountains....
View shrine →Akita
The Shikoku no Kuni Inari Shrine in Akita is dedicated to the kami of fertility and prosperity, part...
View shrine →Akita
InariJigoku-jinja, a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, honors the kami of fire and evil spirits,...
View shrine →Akita
Located in the city of Akita, San-gi Daijin Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of industry and ag...
View shrine →Akita
Tamayama-no-kami, Nakatuma-no-kamiToriya Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity of good luck and prosperity, T...
View shrine →Akita
Tōkatsu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fire and li...
View shrine →Akita
ShinmeishinnoLocated in the town of Sakata, Akita Prefecture, Shinmei-ji Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedic...
View shrine →Akita
SanjigijinLocated in Akita Prefecture, Sanjigijinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of good fortune...
View shrine →Akita
RaijinThe Dengen-ji Temple, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Shinto god of...
View shrine →Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita, Sen no Rikyū is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Sen no Sōsa, a...
View shrine →Akita
SengenThe Gyōzen-ji temple in Akita Prefecture is home to the Shenchantō, a five-story pagoda dedicated to...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.