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
Located in the town of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Old Cedar Shrine is dedicated to a kami associated...
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Shiga
Oi no TsumiLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Oi no Tsumi Shrine is a small but significant Shi...
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Shiga
OkamiLocated in the city of Nagahama, Desire God Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okami, the Shinto...
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Shiga
HachimanLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Eightfold Temple Shrine (Hachimangu) is a famous...
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Shiga
Yama-Tenryu (Mountain God of Mercy)Located in the town of Echizen, Shiga Prefecture, Tsuzaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Shiga
Located in the picturesque city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture's Ryūgū Shrine is one of Japan's most sc...
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Shiga
Hinokami藤ヶ森神社 is a small but historic Shinto shrine located in the heart of the Arashiyama bamboo fores...
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Shiga
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, East Village Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Ina...
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Shiga
ŌmikamiLocated in the city of Nagahama, Omiwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the samura...
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Shiga
SusanooCity Katsura Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the sun god...
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Shiga
Sasame-OkamiLocated in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture,朝日大明神 槍先大明神 is a revered Shinto shrine dedica...
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Shiga
RyujinLocated in the Shiga Prefecture, Water Heaven Palace Shrine (Sui Tengu) is a sacred site dedicated t...
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Shiga
Tamayusu-oka-tsumi (Water Spirit) and Hachiman (God of War)The West Coast Shrine and the Heaven's Gate Shrine are two separate Shinto shrines located in the ci...
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Shiga
RyujinLocated in the town of Gokashima, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Ryujin Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
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Shiga
InariLocated in the city of Ryugasaki, Shiga Prefecture, 磯崎神社 御旅所 is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
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Shiga
Enma DaiōLocated in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Gates Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and...
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Shiga
Kamisemabe no okamiThis ancient Shinto shrine in Shiga Prefecture has a rich history dating back to the 8th century, wi...
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Shiga
YatagarasuGoryōji Shrine is located in the city of Kōka, Shiga Prefecture, and is dedicated to the deity Yatag...
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Shiga
Emperor Jinmu, Prince ShotokuLocated in the city of Omi-ya, Shiga Prefecture, Horyu-ji-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Empe...
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Shiga
Tsukuyomi-no-KamiAgatsutsuji Ten is a Shinto shrine located in Nagaizumi, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicated to the god of w...
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Shiga
Kumano Okappo-shaKumano Sanzan, a sacred mountain range in Japan, is the spiritual home of Kumano Okappo-sha, a power...
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Shiga
Located in the town of Ryuhaku, Kasugai-shi, Shiga Prefecture, Me no Miyajin-gu is a historic Shinto...
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Shiga
OnigamiLocated in the city of Nagahama, Eight Saints Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the en...
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Shiga
InariLocated in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Inari Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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