Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

八王子神社(近々木神社)

Shiga

Eight celestial bodies, including Inari, Hachiman.

八王子神社, located in Shiga Prefecture, is a well-preserved Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...

View shrine →

木和田神社

彦根市八坂町, Shiga

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

The Kami-anda Shrine in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of rice a...

View shrine →

鳴宮神社

彦根市平田町, Shiga

null

Naka-machi Shrine, located in the heart of Omi-hachiman City in Shiga Prefecture, is a sacred site d...

View shrine →

鳴宮神社

彦根市平田町, Shiga

Okuninushi

Located in the city of Eitetsu, Omi, in Shiga Prefecture, Nuki-miya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedica...

View shrine →

日吉大明神 日吉大社西本宮

Shiga

Amaterasu / Susanoo

Located in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Dayotsu Grand Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess A...

View shrine →

牛頭天皇 八坂神社

Shiga

Inari

Located in the Echizen Province of Shiga Prefecture, Eight坂 Shrine is dedicated to Inari Okami, a r...

View shrine →

稲荷大明神 伏見稲荷大社

Shiga

Inari Ōkami

Innsyō Taishūgū, also known as Fushimi Inari Shrine, is one of the most famous and iconic Shinto shr...

View shrine →

賀茂下上 賀茂御祖神社(下鴨神社)賀茂別雷神社(上賀茂神社)

Shiga

Hachiman

Shonai Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to the Kami of Prosperity and Good Fortune....

View shrine →

小日吉大明神 日吉大社東本宮

Shiga

Otohime

Located in Shiga Prefecture, 小日吉大明神 日吉大社東本宮 (Oito Daijin Taisha Tohyou Hongu) is a prom...

View shrine →

平野大明神 平野神社

Shiga

Ōtomo no Okuni

The shrine of Plain Village Great God Plain Village Shrine is a Shinto site located in the city of N...

View shrine →

木野嶋天神 木嶋坐天照御魂神社(木嶋神社)

Shiga

Hara-no-taka-no-kami, Kami Ishimaido

Woodland Shrine of the Seat of Heavenly Light, Woodland God's Spirit Shrine (Woodland Shrine) is a s...

View shrine →

松尾大明神 松尾大社

Shiga

Amaterasu Ōmikami

Located in the city of Gokurakuji, Shiga Prefecture, Matsuo Taishōjin Matsuo Daisan Shrine is one of...

View shrine →

八幡三所 石清水八幡宮

Shiga

Hachiman

Located in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, the eight-storied stone temple of the Eight-Fold...

View shrine →

稲生神社

彦根市芹川町大仏, Shiga

Inari

Ise no Ma no Shinshōji is a small Shinto shrine located in Hikone-shi, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicated t...

View shrine →

八坂神社

彦根市戸賀町, Shiga

Ninjō-sai

Located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Gates Shrine is one of the oldest and most important...

View shrine →

末刀岩上神社

Shiga

Mada-Kiri Iwana Kami no Mikoto

Located in the town of Ryugasaki, Shiga Prefecture, Mada-Kiri Iwana Kami no Mikoto Shrine is dedicat...

View shrine →

新宮神社

Shiga

Inari Okami

新宮神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the Hieizan village of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. As one of...

View shrine →

荒神山神社

Shiga

Naga

Located in the scenic Hieizan mountain range of Shiga Prefecture, Oku-Naga Shrine is dedicated to th...

View shrine →

高山八幡宮

Shiga

Yamato no Okami

High Mountain Eishajinja Shrine, located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedic...

View shrine →

藁園神社

Shiga

Sennyu no Kami (Emperor Jinmu)

Located in the city of Omi, Hikata Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan dedicated to the dei...

View shrine →

日吉二宮神社

Shiga

Otori no Imahime

Located in the city of Omiya, Shiga Prefecture, Dayotsu-Ni-no-Miya Shrine is a historic Shinto shrin...

View shrine →

唐崎神社

Shiga

Ō-no-miya-yoshitsune

located in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Tanganosaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedica...

View shrine →
shinto

戸隠神社

Shiga

Hikonohikomaru no kami

Located in the Koka City of Shiga Prefecture, Kotogahikusyinsha is a small yet historic Shinto shrin...

View shrine →

下垣内八幡宮(安養寺跡)

Shiga

Susanoo

Lowered from the heavens in a divine boat, the primary kami of this shrine is Susanoo, the storm god...

View shrine →

Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

Japanese Culture Network

Japanese Wood Joints

Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen

ShrinePuzzle

Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games

Kohibou

Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides

E2Japan

Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations

The 725 Club

SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker

Spaceship Adventures

Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development

Uptown Zero

Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life

Book Fairy Tales

AI-powered educational stories for kids

CSSKitsune

Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts

Shinto Wisdom app icon
Free App · No Ads · Offline

Shinto Wisdom Daily Practice

by 10k Game Studio

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.

結び Musubi 清め Harae 自然 Shizen 間 Ma 誠 Makoto + 45 more
Get it on Google Play