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
Evening-zangLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, evening-zang Taishadai-batsu-shina-sa is a lesser-known Shinto shr...
View shrine →Hokkaido
InariLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Sanda-ori-gonson-mura Inari Shrine is a majestic Shinto temple ded...
View shrine →Hokkaido
nullLocated in the picturesque town of Shiraoi, Moregitsu Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary nestled am...
View shrine →Hokkaido
TsukuyomiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, three-spired shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to the ens...
View shrine →Hokkaido
AktanLocated in the scenic town of Kutchan, Hokkaido's northernmost tip, 活汲神社 (Aktan-gami-jinja) is a...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Tobetsu Shrine, located in Hokkaido's Toyako town, is dedicated to the sea god and patron deity of f...
View shrine →Hokkaido
AmaterasuLocated on the coast of Hokkaido, Dayutsuoshio-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amateras...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Birogami OkappiLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Gold Sword Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Biroga...
View shrine →Hokkaido
nullKarlsburg Pharmacist Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Karlsburg's patron deity, the god of hea...
View shrine →登別市, 北海道
Tsukuyomi, RyujinLocated in the heart of Abashiri Subprefecture, 刈田神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tsukuyomi,...
View shrine →Hokkaido
HachimanLocated in the coastal city of Aomori, Sōroku Hachiman-gu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god Ha...
View shrine →Hokkaido
共栄稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Aomori, Hokkaido. The shrine's name, '...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the scenic town of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Shishido Shrine is one of Japan's most no...
View shrine →Hokkaido
TsukiyomiPotsu Road Shrine, located in Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sea and the...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Located in the scenic town of Shushin, Hokkaido, Hushirota-hachiman-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
View shrine →留萌市, 北海道
RyujinRissho-Enshu Island Shrine, located in Nanae Town, Otaru City, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
View shrine →留萌市, 北海道
Susanoo藤山八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Raisetsu, Hokkaido, dedicated to the Shinto deity Susanoo...
View shrine →留萌市, 北海道
nullSalty Spring Shrine, located in Rumoi City, northern Japan, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of salt...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic Akashan region of Hokkaido,臼谷稲荷神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →滝川市, 北海道
Mountain KamiLocated in the picturesque city of Takkawa, Hokkaido, Takkawa Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary ne...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Located in the scenic Sapporo area of Hokkaido, Ifuku Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto goddess of l...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Onezone Shrine, located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, is dedicated to the kami of the region's abundant natu...
View shrine →Hokkaido
nullLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, 折戸神社奥の院 (Toshoji Ryokan) is a historic Shinto shrine famous...
View shrine →Hokkaido
Fukurou-kamiLocated in the heart of Hokkaido, Dai Ichi Jinja Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of prosperity...
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.