Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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.

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30,440 shrines found

白山神社

Niigata

Yatagarasu

Located in the heart of Echigo Takamatsu, white mountain shrine, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...

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石動神社

Niigata

Dedicated to the kami of agriculture and fertility, Goshin'youjin Taisha is a Shinto shrine located...

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藤橋神社

Niigata

Fujitani

Located in the beautiful Niigata prefecture,藤橋神社 is a serene Shinto shrine nestled near a tranqu...

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神谷神明社

Niigata

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Located in the picturesque Niigata Prefecture, Godai Shrine is dedicated to Ise no Okami and Ise no...

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石動社

Niigata

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Located in the town of Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, Stone Gate Shrine is a Shinto...

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伊米神社 八幡宮

Niigata

Inari Okami

Located in the heart of Niigata City, Iimi Shinto Shrine is one of Japan's most famous shrines dedic...

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越敷神社

Niigata

Ryujin

Setoishi Shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of fish...

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城川神社

Niigata

Castle Town Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata's castle town, is dedicated to the spirits of th...

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宇都宮神社

Niigata

Tsuchi no Kami (Earth God) and Katsushika-no-Kami (God of the Rice Fields)

Utsunomiya Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of agriculture and fertil...

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宇佐八幡宮

Niigata

Hachiman-gu

Uesugi Kyohei, the daimyo of the Uesugi clan, built the original Eight-Horned Shrine (Hachimantai) i...

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郡殿の池 弁財天の鳥居

Niigata

Benzaiten

Located in the heart of Niigata, Gunkōden no Ike Abenobu-tori is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...

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俣倉神社

Niigata

Amaterasu

The Aikawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture. Dedicated to...

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十二社

Niigata

Hachiman

The twelve-shrines shrine in Niigata Prefecture is dedicated to the worship of twelve kami, includin...

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中山神社

Niigata

Myoko no okami

Located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Middle Mountain Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedic...

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羽黒神社

Niigata

Ryujin

The Hakuji Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of agricu...

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熊野神社

Niigata

Myojin

Kamakura-period shrine dedicated to Myojin, a kami associated with the sea and prosperity, located o...

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中島稲荷神社

Niigata

Otori-no-Okami

Located on a small island in Lake Suwa, middle island Shinto shrine (中島稲荷神社) is a historic and...

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十二神社

Niigata

Hoshiko, Tsuki-yomi, Inari, Kanezane, Shime-no-kami, Futsunoyomi, Ōkamisan, Sokanoyori-tsunaga, Kozue-no-Ōkami, Kaze-no-Tsurugi, Raijin, and Ryujin

The Twelve Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the twelve gods of the Jap...

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八海神社

Niigata

Matsushima Daijin

Located on the coast of Niigata Prefecture, Eight Seas Shinto Shrine is dedicated to the sea deities...

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両山神社

Niigata

Ryūjin

Located in the mountains of Niigata, Ryōzan Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Ryūjin, who is rev...

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稲荷神社

Niigata

Inari Okami

Located in the heart of Niigata, Iseya Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of I...

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白山神社

Niigata

Hakumonogatari no Kami

Located in the scenic city of Agematsu, Shirakami-Sanchi National Park's sacred site White Mountain...

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宮本神社

Niigata

宮本神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of...

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八幡宮

Niigata

Susanoo

Located in the city of Kariya, Niigata Prefecture,八幡宮 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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