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
Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Ninomurajinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the village...
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Kyoto
RyujinThe Shrine of the Twelve Month Chestnut is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the kami o...
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Kyoto
ŌkuninushiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ōtani Junshūji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of pros...
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Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, 御劔大明神 Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto deity, Tak...
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Kyoto
The Shrine of Emperor Clear Sky, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the deified spirits of...
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Kyoto
RyujinLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Shinto god of the sea and storms, Ryujin, is enshrined at this ancien...
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Kyoto
AmaterasuEnryakuji Temple's lesser-known neighbor, Enmei-ju, is a small but historic Shinto shrine in the hea...
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Kyoto
Enma-o濱見神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto, dedicated to the kami Enma-o, god of the...
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Kyoto
Amaterasu OkamiIfurunoyamagusa Shrine, located in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of fertilit...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Arashiyama Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the god of ri...
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Kyoto
TenjinTennondaiman-sha is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto, dedicated to the kami Tenjin and...
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Kyoto
Susanoo, Kamado, InariLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Sanju-in Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the three prima...
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Kyoto
TenjinLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Tenman-gu Shrine is dedicated to the god Tenjin, a Shinto deity rever...
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Kyoto
Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in Kyoto, the shrine of Amaterasu Ōmikami is one of Japan's most revered Shinto sites. Dedic...
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Kyoto
TsukiyomiSmall bridge shrine, dedicated to a kami associated with bridges and rivers, is located in the heart...
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Kyoto
Yakushi, Okuninushi, KashimaKumano-san is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines, located in the Kumano region of Wakayama P...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiMiddle Village Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a serene Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiLocated in Kyoto, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan de...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiThe Inari Shrine in Kyoto is a renowned Shinto site dedicated to the worship of Inari Okami, the Shi...
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Kyoto
FūjinLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Eight Saints Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the worship...
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Kyoto
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Eighteenfold Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the storm g...
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Kyoto
BenzaitenLocated in Kyoto, Eight Horses Temple is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fortune and prosper...
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Kyoto
SakailuLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Sakailu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Sakailu Kami,...
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Kyoto
御旅場 Shrine in Kyoto is a serene oasis nestled within the historic Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Dedic...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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