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
Shinya Tenmangu Shrine
Gifu
Sugawara no MichizaneShinya Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deifie...
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Shiragi Shrine
Gifu
A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture with historical connections to the ancient Korean kingdom of Sill...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidan...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidan...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a prominent kami in Shinto mythology known as...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidance, roads, and s...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, the Shinto deity associated with guidance, cro...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a prominent kami in Shinto mythology known as...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a prominent...
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Shirahige Shrine
Gifu
Sarutahiko no OkamiShirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity associated with guidan...
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Shiratama Ryujin Shrine
Gifu
Shiratama Ryujin (White Jewel Dragon God)A shrine dedicated to Shiratama Ryujin, the White Jewel Dragon God, representing the spiritual power...
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Shiratori Shrine
Gifu
Yamato Takeru no MikotoShiratori Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the legendary prince Yamato Take...
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Shiratori Shrine
Gifu
Yamato Takeru no MikotoShiratori Shrine is dedicated to the legendary prince Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, whose spirit is said...
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Shiratori Shrine
Gifu
Yamato Takeru no MikotoShiratori Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the legendary prince Yamato Take...
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Shirayama Hime Shrine
Gifu
Shirayama Hime no KamiA Shirayama shrine dedicated to the mountain goddess Shirayama Hime no Kami, part of the network of...
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Shiroyama Hachimangu Shrine
Gifu
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionShiroyama Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine located in Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to the divine spirit...
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Shohachimansha Shrine
Gifu
HachimanA Hachiman shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the syncretic Shinto-Buddhist deity Hachiman, who...
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Shokon Shrine
Gifu
Spirits of war deadA Shokon shrine dedicated to honoring the spirits of those who died in military service. Shokon shri...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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