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
Akita
Yamato Takeru no OkamiNoda Shrine, located in the heart of Akita City, is dedicated to the worship of Shinto deities. As o...
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Akita
KannonLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Godaikannon-za Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated t...
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Akita
BishamondakeLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Mount Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
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Akita
Izanagi-no-KamiThe five-storey gate, 'goshintora', of Five-Story Gate Shrine in Akita Prefecture is one of the most...
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Akita
InariCutting Town Rice Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the rice deity Inari Okami an...
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Akita
Yamato no MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 菅原神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to Yamato no...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoThe Jōmon-gū Shrine in Akita Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the god Susan...
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Akita
Michizane菅原神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of Sugawara no Mic...
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Akita
Inari OkamiTsukasa Inari Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
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Akita
RyūjinLocated in the heart of Akita, Ryūjin-mya is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the dragon god Ryū...
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Akita
Inari稲荷社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of Inari Okami, the...
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Akita
Kumagasa-oki-mimi no-kamiSeven-Faced Mountain Seven-Faced Hall is a Shinto shrine located in the Akita Prefecture, dedicated...
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Akita
InariSukasa Inari Shrine, located in the city of Akita, is dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity ass...
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Akita
AmaterasuIndra Shrine in Akita Prefecture is one of Japan's oldest and most famous Shinto shrines dedicated t...
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Akita
TenjinLocated in Akita Prefecture, Tenjin-gu Shrine is dedicated to the kami of learning and culture. As o...
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Akita
Ōsumi諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Azuma, Akita Prefecture. It is dedicated to the k...
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Akita
SankyōjinLocated in the heart of Akita, Sanjigishinsha Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the de...
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Akita
ŌhachiWhite Hound Shrine, located in the heart of Akita city, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Ōhachi, who...
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Akita
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture,熊野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the wors...
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Akita
ŌsakiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Ōsaki Shrine is dedicated to the kami of the house and home. This Shint...
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Akita
Yamatano Orochi-no-Mikoto宮比神社, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Yamatano Orochi-no-Mikoto, a...
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Akita
nullAkematsu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Tangosan M...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Tsukimine Inari Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to the rev...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Akakawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inari Oka...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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