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
Hakamadara OkamiLocated in the heart of rural Hokkaido, 小平神社 is a small Shinto shrine dedicated to the protectio...
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Soshiko-odokamiRin'oku-gu Shrine, located in the scenic town of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, is a sacred site dedic...
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Ran'etsuLocated in the scenic Lake Toya region of Hokkaido, Ran'etsu-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicat...
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Daijō-jinja Shrine, located in the central town of Akan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ōyama Tenji...
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nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, 女代神社 is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess...
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Hachiman ŌkamiKyōgoku-hachi-bayashinsha is a Shinto shrine in the Chishima District of Hokkaido, dedicated to Hach...
View shrine →札幌市, 北海道
ŌkuninushiThe Sapporo Toya Shrine, located in Hokkaido, is one of the oldest shrines in northern Japan. Dedica...
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Inari ŌkamiLocated in the scenic city of Sapporo, Hokkaido,中札内神社 (Nayadaini Shrine) is a Shinto shrine ded...
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Ōfusa InariKōrinsha is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido. Founded i...
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Karibetsu-himeLocated in the picturesque town of Akan, Hokkaido's largest caldera lake region, 上札内神社 is a Shi...
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nullLocated in the northernmost part of Japan, Ryuyudoshi no Machi Shrine is dedicated to the deity Ryuj...
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Located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, Ue-Okappu Shrine is dedicated to Okappu, a...
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InariIn the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido, lies the ancient Inari Okappi Shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shin...
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HachimanLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, the eight-storied Eight-Horned Shrine is d...
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HachimanLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Meta-Andō Hachiman-jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Inari OkamiLocated in Hokkaido, the Shorenji Inari Taisha is one of Japan's most important Shinto shrines dedic...
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Located in the coastal town of Rishiri, Hokkaido's northernmost point, 栄浜八幡神社 is a scenic Shin...
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Orochi-no-mikoLocated in the scenic northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, Bird's Hill Shrine is a Shinto site dedi...
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Ebioshi HachimanHakupertsu-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the eastern part of Japan's northernmost prefecture,...
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Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Ōyama Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the enshrined d...
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SusanooLocated in the scenic town of Otaru, Hokkaido, 中ノ川八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...
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Inari OkappuForest Crossing Shrine, located in the heart of Hokkaido's scenic wilderness, is a sacred site rever...
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Tsuruga-oki Shrine, located in the scenic town of Asahikawa, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kam...
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nullRyuguen Valley Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the picturesque Ryuguen Valley, near Lake Toya i...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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