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
Oshima Shrine
Ishikawa
Oshima no KamiOshima Shrine, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same...
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Ouyada Shrine
Ishikawa
Located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Ouyada Shrine is a Shinto shrine that has been...
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Oyama-jinja Shrine
Ishikawa
Located in the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, Oyama-jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated t...
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Ozaki Shrine
Ishikawa
KamuiLocated in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Ozaki Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicate...
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Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the picturesque town of Sasai, Ishikawa Prefecture, Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine is a histo...
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Shirayama Shrine
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the picturesque town of Kanazawa, Shirayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...
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ShirayamahimeJinja
Ishikawa
nullLocated in the Japanese Alps, ShirayamahimeJinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Shirayama Hime, a l...
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ShirayamahimeJinja Okumiya
Ishikawa
Located in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture, ShirayamahimeJinja Okumiya is a Shinto shrine dedic...
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Shishiku-Shirayamahime-Jinja shrine
Ishikawa
Located in the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture, Shishiku-Shirayamahime-Jinja Shrine is dedicated to...
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Ishikawa
Sugawara no MikadoSugawarajinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture. Dedicat...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Ishikawa
Located in the coastal city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of Japan's old...
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Takenami Shrine
Ishikawa
HachimanLocated in the town of Yashima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Takenami Shrine is a small Shinto shrine dedica...
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Utasu Jinja Shrine
Ishikawa
HachimanUtatsu Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and has...
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Yamazakura shrine
Ishikawa
Mount HakuLocated in the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, Yamazakura Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated t...
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Yoshiwara Shrine
Ishikawa
nullLocated in the heart of Ishikawa Prefecture, Yoshiwara Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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