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 northernmost prefecture of Japan, Hokkaido, this Shinto shrine is a lesser-known yet...
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Hokkaido
nullJukutai Shinto Shrine, located in the heart of rural Hokkaido, is a lesser-known yet fascinating sit...
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Hokkaido
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest metropolis, Gold Mine Shrine is a Shinto shrine d...
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Hokkaido
Okami厳島神社 is a Shinto shrine located on Rishiri Island, part of the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National...
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Hokkaido
Okuninushi-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, is the Happiness Shrine, dedicated to...
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Hokkaido
SusanooTakahashi Shrine, located in the southern part of Hokkaido's capital city Sapporo, is one of the old...
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Hokkaido
Manyo-betsuLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Manyo-betsu-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the kami of the same name...
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Hokkaido
Located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, Toyokuchi Shrine is dedicated to the deifi...
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Hokkaido
Threefold Deity, a combination of Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Kaguya-himeLocated in the scenic Lake Toya, Five-Heaven Mountain Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the wor...
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Hokkaido
Located in the heart of rural Hokkaido, Upper Hand Rice Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedic...
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Hokkaido
HachimanLocated in the southern island of Hokkaido, Ishikari Hachiman Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shr...
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Hokkaido
Ebisu-gamiLocated in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Stone Fence Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami...
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Hokkaido
Outakujina Shrine, dedicated to the sea kami Outakujin, is a historic Shinto shrine located in Koyur...
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Hokkaido
HachimanLocated in the heart of rural Hokkaido, Etotsu Kōenrappū Hachimangu-jinja is a lesser-known Shinto s...
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Hokkaido
Located in the scenic Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Kurobe Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated...
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Hokkaido
InariToganeyama Inari Shrine, located in the heart of Hokkaido's scenic beauty, is a revered Shinto site...
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Hokkaido
BontenbushinshaLocated in Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Omotesando Shrines of Bontenbushinsha (also known as Kamio-mori Sh...
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Hokkaido
EbisuLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Ebisu Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to Ebisu, the god o...
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Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, 西岡八幡宮 is a historic Shinto shrine ded...
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Hokkaido
Hachiman, Tsunegi-no-OkamiLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, above a natural hot spring called 'mizu no ike', upper mountain sh...
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Hokkaido
Tanaka Hikokuro, Godai HikokuroboshiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Godai Hikokuroboshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god...
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Hokkaido
nullAkakawa Shrine, located in the scenic Rishiri Island of Hokkaido, is dedicated to the kami of the Ak...
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Hokkaido
Inari OkappanLocated in the scenic town of Kitaaichi, Hokkaido, the Tsukayama Shrine is a sacred site dedicated t...
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Hokkaido
Ryujin (Dragon God)Located in Hokkaido, the Oyashiro-san Shrine is dedicated to the kami of mountain and fertility. The...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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