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
Shiga
InariLocated in the city of Omiya, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is one of Japan's most famous...
View shrine →Shiga
HikoboshiThe 猿田彦神社, or Sakahama Hikoboshi Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Sado, Shiga...
View shrine →Shiga
InariLocated in the town of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Ryogoku Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Shiga
AmidaLocated in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, Meisu Daikannon is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Shiga
Imperative Shinto deity, null for kami_enshrinedIse Grand Shrine's Shōki-den is a revered site in Japan, dedicated to the sacred tree Shōki no ki. T...
View shrine →Shiga
TakaokamiCity Kawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rivers, located in Omi-Inataoka, Shiga P...
View shrine →Shiga
Inari OkamiThreeji Inari Shrine is a well-known Shinto shrine located in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture. Ded...
View shrine →Shiga
RyūjinChidori-ga-fuchi Ryūjinsha is a Shinto shrine located in the Hikone city of Shiga Prefecture, dedica...
View shrine →Shiga
RyujinRiver of the Great Deity Shrine, located in Hikone city, Shiga prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedica...
View shrine →Shiga
Dragon deities (including Ryū no Okappan Ōkami, Baito no Kami, and Hakuryū no Kami)Located in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Great Dragon Kings Shrine (Yatsugoshirao Jinja)...
View shrine →Shiga
Goei no OkamiLocated in the city of Maibara, in Shiga Prefecture, 廣告稲荷大神 Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicate...
View shrine →Shiga
TsukuyomiLocated in the Kiso Valley of Shiga Prefecture, 眼力大神 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Shiga
Nouchi no Okami脳天大神 (Nouchi no Okami) Shrine in Omi, Shiga Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
View shrine →Shiga
Small Matsusaka Shrine in Shiga Prefecture is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, with a focus o...
View shrine →Shiga
Inari ŌkamiLocated in the town of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Indogitsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →Shiga
HachimanLocated in the city of Omi, Hachiman Shrine, also known as Tenman-ji, is one of Japan's oldest and m...
View shrine →Shiga
Hie no OkamiHie Shrine, dedicated to the god of agriculture and fertility, is located in Hikone City, Shiga Pref...
View shrine →Shiga
Watanabe no MurakamiWatanabe no Murakami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicated to Wat...
View shrine →Shiga
TenjinLocated in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Daidokan Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Shiga
EbisuEnbei-su-ja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ebisu, the god of prosperity and good fortune. Located i...
View shrine →Shiga
Amaterasu ŌmikamiOtsu Okami-miya Shrine, located in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
View shrine →Shiga
Ushinari-gamiLocated in the city of Omi-ji, Shiga Prefecture, 護縁神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →Shiga
Located in the city of Hikone, Omi Bige-ya Shrine is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Om...
View shrine →Shiga
TenjinLocated in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Tenman-ji Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedica...
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.