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
Ishikawa
BishamontenLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
EnmaLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture,諏訪神社 is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrine...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Amaterasu ŌmikamiThe Godai Jingū Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Hachiman OkamiWhite Mountain Shrine, located in the city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, is dedicated to the S...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the b...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Sugawara no MichizaneLocated in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture, Yama-ō Tenmangu Shrine is a sacred site dedicated t...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
nullLocated in the town of Katsuyama, Ishikawa Prefecture, Yamao no Miyajima is a lesser-known Shinto sh...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Dōso-no-kamiDōso-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. Dedicated...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanWhite Mountain Shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto god of war and patron deity of samurai. L...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a prominent Shin...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanThe Eight-Horned Shrine, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a significant Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
RyujinLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture,鷲塚神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
GodaiGodai Shrine, located in Kanazawa's Higashi-ku ward, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the ka...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Okuninushi no KamiWhite Mountain Shrine, located in the Japanese Alps of Ishikawa Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shin...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanWhite Mountain Shrine, located in the Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa, is dedicated to the Shinto de...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the heart of Kanazawa, Hana no Ohirido Spring Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanFukurokura Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukui City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The shrine is dedic...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Tamayura-no-okamiLocated in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture,篠座神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Located in the city of Kanazawa, Higashi-no-mitsumine Shrine is dedicated to the god Hachiman, a Shi...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
FujinLocated in the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, Dayo-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deity Fujin, reve...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Yata no KagamiWhite Mountain One Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of the mountain, located in the be...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
InariVillage Oak Shrine, located in the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture, White Mountain Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated...
View shrine →
Ishikawa
Kanayamago no OkamiRivermouth Shrine, located in the heart of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a serene Shinto oasis t...
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.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.