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
Sakura Hachiman Shrine
Oita
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)A Hachiman shrine located in Oita Prefecture dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the Shinto deity...
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Shirohara Hachimansha
Oita
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Shirohara Hachimansha is a Hachiman shrine located in Oita Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of H...
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Tafue Shrine
Oita
A Shinto shrine located in Oita Prefecture, whose name relates to rice planting activities that were...
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Tanaka Tenmansha Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and patro...
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Tenchisan Shrine
Oita
Deities of heaven and earthA shrine dedicated to the fundamental forces of heaven and earth, representing the cosmic duality th...
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Tenman Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneTenman Shrine is a Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politic...
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Tenman Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneTenman Shrine is a Tenjin shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politic...
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Tenmansha Shrine
Oita
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and poet...
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Toshi Shrine
Oita
Toshigami (New Year deity)A shrine dedicated to Toshigami, the Shinto deity associated with the New Year and annual cycles. To...
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Watatumi Shrine
Oita
Watatsumi-no-kami (sea deity)A Shinto shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Watatsumi-no-kami, the powerful sea deity of Japanes...
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Yasaka Shrine
Oita
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Oita Prefecture dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god an...
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Yusuhara Hachimangu Shrine
Oita
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Yusuhara Hachimangu is a prominent Hachiman shrine in Oita Prefecture, known for its historical sign...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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