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
Shimane
KamaimaLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Futsu Kame Eight Hound Shrine is dedicated to the...
View shrine →Shimane
BishamonLocated in the town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, 盛八幡大神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Shimane
Sanematsu no OkamiLocated in the scenic town of Nishinoshima, Shimane Prefecture, Three-Faced Shrine (Sanematsu-jinja)...
View shrine →Shimane
HachimanLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Minamiyatsu Hachiman Shrine is a sacred site dedi...
View shrine →Shimane
Izumo OkamiThe Yama-no-Mori Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Iwami, Shimane Prefecture. Dedicated to the go...
View shrine →Shimane
TenjinLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Chikushi-jinsha Shrine is a historic Shinto shrin...
View shrine →Shimane
HachimanLocated in the heart of Shikoku,朝倉八幡宮 (Asahura Hachiman-ya) is a historic Shinto shrine dedicat...
View shrine →Shimane
nullThe Anzai Shrine, located in the heart of Matsue city in Shimane prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Shimane
InariMatcha-ya Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, famous for its beautiful...
View shrine →Shimane
Located in the scenic Shimonoseki Peninsula of Shimane Prefecture, Ushi no Ko Shrine is a serene Shi...
View shrine →Shimane
Takemikazuchi高尾神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, dedicated to the god...
View shrine →Shimane
Kingotsu no OkamiKingotsu Shrine, located in the Izu Peninsula of Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to Kingotsu no Oka...
View shrine →Shimane
HachimanLocated in the Seto Inland Sea, Shimoine Eight-Hand God Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the s...
View shrine →Shimane
Inari須賀神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. The shrine is dedicat...
View shrine →Shimane
Yama-no-okamiLocated in the city of Matsue, Yotsukuni Shrine is dedicated to the god of war and protection, Yama-...
View shrine →Shimane
HachimanAlluga Ryōhachi-ya Hachiman-gū is a Shinto shrine located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, dedicated to...
View shrine →Shimane
PishisaPishisa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of the forest, Pishisa. Located in the Iwami...
View shrine →Shimane
ŌkuninushiLocated in the heart of Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, 下ノ町胡子神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Shimane
Sōsa no OkamiLocated in the heart of Shiroishi, a small town in Shimane Prefecture, Sōsa Shrine is dedicated to S...
View shrine →Shimane
Gyōbei no Tsukino-gamiLocated in the town of Aki, Shimane Prefecture, Gyōbei Tsukino Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →Shimane
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a renowned Shinto site...
View shrine →Shimane
Amaterasu, SusanooLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, East Shine Palace (Toya-miyabito-ji) is a Shinto...
View shrine →Shimane
OinagisamaLocated in the town of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Izumo Takamatsu Shrine is one of Japan's most famo...
View shrine →Shimane
Beichu-cho Huji-sha in Shimane Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the local area...
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.