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
Hokkaido
Yamatano OrochiIwatahikari Shrine, located in the heart of Hokkaido's scenic Iwatahikari Village, has been a revere...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Tappio/AmabieTappiiso Mise Shrine, located in Hokkaido's Abashiri city, honors the kami of the sea and fishing in...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Aoshigahakamachi-no-kamiStacked torii gate at the entrance to Motoshishida Shrine, a branch of Tōbetsu Shinshinji in Sapporo...
View shrine →Hokkaido
InariLocated in the picturesque town of Wakkanai, Hokkaido's northernmost city,西石倉稲荷神社 is a histor...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic Akkeshi Peninsula of Hokkaido, Akizukiwa-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the Shin...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Benzaiten, Futsunokami InariLocated in Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, Seiryojinja Shrine is dedicated to the god of agricultu...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Virta-ga-utaVirta-ga-uta Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Virta-ga-uta, revered in the region of...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Located in Hokkaido, 花和神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of good fortune and prosperit...
View shrine →Hokkaido
HachimanMoon Port Hachiman Shrine, located in Hokkaido, is dedicated to the Shinto god of war and justice, H...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Kawasumi-no-Kami Shrine, dedicated to the god of the sea and storms, is a Shinto shrine located in H...
View shrine →Hokkaido
TobiusuLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Daio Jinsha is a Shinto shrine that honors the kami of rice and pr...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Tsuneyuki and TsunekoLocated in the scenic town of Kitamieshi, Hokkaido's longest river, Ishikari River, flows through th...
View shrine →Hokkaido
InariLocated in the coastal town of Tomakomai, Hokkaido,平浜稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inar...
View shrine →Hokkaido
InariLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, Inari Okappurushi Shrine is dedicated to t...
View shrine →Hokkaido
InariUppōrindare no Miya is a Shinto shrine located in the Uupu District of Hokkaido's Oshama Town. As on...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, 鵜泊稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the god of ri...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Shikinami-no-kamiStacked stone shrine located on the shores of Lake Toya in Hokkaido, known for its natural beauty an...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Rich in natural beauty and rich in history, Richirinsha Shrine in Hokkaido is a serene oasis nestled...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, the Saidaiju Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god Saidaiju...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Tsumugi-no-kamiTsumugi-no-kami Shrine, located in Hokkaido, is dedicated to the Shinto god of weaving and the patro...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the picturesque town of Otaru, Hokkaido, Hotondo Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicat...
View shrine →Hokkaido
YayoiLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, White Mountain Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the kami of Mt...
View shrine →Hokkaido
HachimanDōna-hōtōya-Hachiman-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war and patron deity...
View shrine →浦河町, 北海道
KamiLocated in the picturesque town of Ōtaru, Hokkaido's second-largest city, East Aurora Shrine has bee...
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.