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
Located in the scenic Akan National Park,音別神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Hokkaido
AmaterasuLocated in the scenic coastal town of Shari, Hokkaido, Tomi Hamashinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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nullLocated in the scenic town of Ebetsu, Hokkaido, above White Waterfall Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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Ame-no-MurakumoLocated in the scenic Otaru region of Hokkaido, Eight Cloud Shrine is a revered Shinto site that hon...
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Located in the scenic town of Kitamieshi, Hokkaido, Jo茂be Goda Shrine is a lesser-known but still r...
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BenzaitenLocated in the heart of Sapporo, three-wheeled god shrine 'Sanbyou Jinja' is a revered Shinto site d...
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Akakawa Iwatsura Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Akan, is a lesser-known Shinto shrine de...
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Rin no Maru Shrine, located in the scenic town of Otaru, Hokkaido, is a beautiful Shinto temple dedi...
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Located in the heart of Hokkaido, 上仁頃神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of longevity a...
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nullLocated in the Sapporo city of Hokkaido, Takagahara-hie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
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nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Tōgawagamiwa Shrine is a sacred Shinto site that honors the kami (...
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Rinyōbetsu Shrine, located in the heart of Hokkaido's snowy landscape, is dedicated to the Shinto go...
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HachimanLocated in Sapporo, the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, Odawara-style eigh...
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nullLocated in the scenic town of Shikotsu, Hokkaido's western region, is the historical West Village Sh...
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Ame-no-himori no KamiPul Valley Shrine, located in the scenic Pulgavu area of central Hokkaido, has a long history dating...
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HachimanLocated in Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, Tsukimi no Mae Hachiman-gu is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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BishamontenLocated in the scenic town of Otaru, Hokkaido's southernmost city, below, or Naka, is a humble Shint...
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HachimanLocated in Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Toya Fujiyama Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hach...
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nullTomba Shrine, located in Kurihara, Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami o...
View shrine →広尾町, 北海道
TenjōLocated in Hoppo, Hokkaido, Tenjō-jinsha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of war and s...
View shrine →えりも町, 北海道
RyujinLocated in the town of Erimo, Hokkaido, the Momozukuri Shrine is dedicated to a local deity believed...
View shrine →様似町, 北海道
Hokkaido's Hakodate Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god of harvests and fertility, Manabu-no-kami, i...
View shrine →様似町, 北海道
Mimikotoga no KamiThis Shinto shrine in Hokkaido's Satsunai town is known as 'mimikotoga,' or 'similar residence kami....
View shrine →様似町, 北海道
Susa no ŌkamiTenshū Tenjin Shrine in Sếtsumai Town, Hokkaido, is dedicated to the deity Susa no Ōkami, also known...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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