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
Miyazawa Shinmeisha Shrine
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiMiyazawa Shinmeisha is a local Shinmei shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami,...
View shrine →Mizu Shrine
Kanagawa
Water deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to water deities, reflecting Japan's deep reverence for natural water sour...
View shrine →Mori Asama Shrine Lower Shrine
Kanagawa
Konohanasakuya-himeThe lower shrine of Mori Asama Shrine, located on Mount Kasara in Kanagawa Prefecture. As part of th...
View shrine →Moroiso Shinmei Shrine
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiA Shinmei shrine located in the coastal Moroiso area of Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. As a Shinme...
View shrine →Motomachi Itsukushima Shrine
Kanagawa
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA local Itsukushima shrine located in the Motomachi district, likely dedicated to the same sea godde...
View shrine →Myoken Daibosatsu Shrine
Kanagawa
Myoken Daibosatsu (North Star deity)A shrine dedicated to Myoken Daibosatsu, the Buddhist-Shinto syncretistic deity associated with the...
View shrine →Myoken Shrine
Kanagawa
Myoken Bosatsu (North Star deity)A Shinto shrine dedicated to Myoken Bosatsu, the Buddhist deity associated with the North Star and B...
View shrine →Nakahama Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiNakahama Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the harvest and pr...
View shrine →Nakamura Hachimangu Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman (God of War and Divine Protection)Nakamura Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Oji...
View shrine →Negishi Hachiman Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman, deity of war and divine protectionNegishi Hachiman Shrine is a local Hachiman shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Neno Shrine
Kanagawa
Local protective deityA local Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to protective deities. The name suggests a co...
View shrine →Nenokami Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoA local Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to protective deities. The shrine serves the...
View shrine →Nenomoto Shrine
Kanagawa
A Shinto shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, whose name literally means 'root origin' or 'foundat...
View shrine →Nichigetu Shrine
Kanagawa
Sun and Moon deitiesNichigetu Shrine is dedicated to the sun and moon deities, reflecting the fundamental duality of cel...
View shrine →Nicho Waka Shinmei Shrine
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiA local Shinmei shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Like other Shi...
View shrine →Nijurokuya Tower
Kanagawa
A stone tower dedicated to moon worship practices, specifically honoring the twenty-sixth night luna...
View shrine →Nishimachi Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine located in Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice, prosperi...
View shrine →Nishimori Inari Taisha
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiNishimori Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the kami...
View shrine →Nitsuke Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperity deity Inari. Like m...
View shrine →Noba Shinmei Shrine
Kanagawa
Amaterasu OmikamiNoba Shinmei Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami,...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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