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
Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
Minamoto no YoshitsuneLocated in the heart of Tokyo, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's most famous shrines and a symbol of the...
View shrine →Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
Wind GodHie Shrine, located in Fujinuma, Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shi...
View shrine →Hie Shrine
Shizuoka
InariLocated in the heart of Edo-era Tokyo, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's most revered and historic Shinto...
View shrine →Himeyu Shrine
Shizuoka
nullHimeyu Shrine, located in the city of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedica...
View shrine →Hirose Shrine
Shizuoka
InariHirose Shrine, located in the town of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of fert...
View shrine →Hirotomi Inari-jinja Shrine
Shizuoka
InariLocated in the city of Izu Kama, Shizuoka Prefecture, Hirotomi Inari-jinja Shrine is a small but his...
View shrine →Hiyoshi Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanHiyoshi Shrine, located in the town of Kakegawa in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Homusubi Shrine
Shizuoka
UnknownHomusubi Shrine, located in the city of Ise, Shizuoka Prefecture, is dedicated to the spirit of fire...
View shrine →Honden (Main Hall)
Shizuoka
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Honden Shrine is a notable Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Ichi-no-Miya Shrine
Shizuoka
Emperor JimmuIchi-no-Miya Shrine is a small but significant Shinto shrine located in the city of Kakegawa, Shizuo...
View shrine →Ieshiro Akiha Jinja
Shizuoka
Inari Okami, Fujin RaijinIeshiro Akiha Jinja, located in the city of Kakegawa in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a lesser-known but c...
View shrine →Iinoyagu Shrine
Shizuoka
Inari OkamiIinoyagu Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Ena in Shizuoka Prefecture, is dedicated to Inar...
View shrine →Ikazuchi jinja
Shizuoka
Karasu-taka no KamiIkazuchi Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kamo in Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated to t...
View shrine →Ikona Hime-no-Mikoto Shrine
Shizuoka
Hime-no-MikotoIkona Hime-no-Mikoto Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture. De...
View shrine →Inari Shrine
Shizuoka
Inari OkamiLocated in Shizuoka Prefecture, Inari Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and visited Shinto shrine...
View shrine →Ise Daijingu Shrine
Shizuoka
AmaterasuIse Daijingu Shrine is one of the most sacred Shinto shrines in Japan, dedicated to the sun goddess...
View shrine →Itasawa Jinja
Shizuoka
Mikoto no OkamiItasawa Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, dedicated t...
View shrine →Itsukushima Shrine
Shizuoka
Itsukushima Shrine, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of the most famous and iconic Shinto shri...
View shrine →Iwamuro Shrine
Shizuoka
HachimanIwamuro Shrine, located in the town of Kakegawa in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Jingi Taisha Shrine
Shizuoka
RaijinJingi Taisha Shrine, located in the heart of Japan's scenic Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, is...
View shrine →Joyama Shrine
Shizuoka
Located in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, Joyama Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Kamado...
View shrine →Kakuru Shrine
Shizuoka
HikokuroLocated in the city of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kakuru Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the...
View shrine →Kamino-jinjya Shrine
Shizuoka
Kamino-jinjya Shrine, located in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, is a serene and peaceful Shin...
View shrine →Kanazakura Shrine
Shizuoka
Hime no kami / Kami of the GoddessLocated in the city of Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kanazakura Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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.