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
KARIBA shrine
松前町, 北海道
KARIBA shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Matsusaka-chō, Hokkaido. Dedicated to...
View shrine →KARIBA shrine
松前町, 北海道
InariLocated in the picturesque town of Matsue-cho, Hokkaido's Kariba Shrine is a tranquil oasis amidst t...
View shrine →KIYOBE HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanLocated in the city of Matsuechū, northern Hokkaido, Kiyobe Hachiman Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto...
View shrine →KIYOBE HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanLocated in the heart of Matsue town, Kiyobe Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deit...
View shrine →Kotohira Shrine
函館市, 北海道
OkuninushiLocated in Hokkaido, Kotohira Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of learning and wisdom...
View shrine →KUMANO Shrine
松前町, 北海道
nullLocated in the remote town of Matsue in northern Hokkaido, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
View shrine →KUMANO Shrine
松前町, 北海道
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in northern Japan's Hokkaido prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines i...
View shrine →Maruyama Nishimachi Jinja
札幌市, 北海道
JikinokiLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Maruyama Nishimachi Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
View shrine →MATSUMAE GOKOKU shrine
松前町, 北海道
GokokuLocated in the city of Matsusaka-cho, Hokkaido, Matsumae Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →MATSUMAE shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanMATSUMAE shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Matsusaka, Hokkaido, Japan. As one of the...
View shrine →Memanbetsu Shrine
大空町, 北海道
nullMemanbetsu Shrine, located in Big Snow Town, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of s...
View shrine →MIYAUTA HACHIMAN shrine
福島町, 北海道
HachimanMIYAUTA HACHIMAN shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukushima-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. The shrine was...
View shrine →MIYAUTA HACHIMAN shrine
福島町, 北海道
HachimanLocated in the picturesque town of Fukuroma, Hokkaido, Miyauta Hachiman Shrine is a serene Shinto sa...
View shrine →Moire Shrine
余市町, 北海道
Moire Shrine, located in the rural town of Raisetsu in northern Japan's Hokkaido prefecture, is a le...
View shrine →Nakano hashi kuroki hachidai ryūjin'
函館市, 北海道
RyūjinLocated in Otaru, Hokkaido, Nakano Hashi Kuroki Hachidai Ryōjin' Shrine is dedicated to the Eight Gr...
View shrine →Nishino Shrine
札幌市, 北海道
nullNishino Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido. The...
View shrine →Nogi Shrine
函館市, 北海道
nullNogi Shrine in Hokkaido's Otaru City is dedicated to Shintokō, the kami of the sea and a protector o...
View shrine →O-SAWA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the snowy landscape of Hokkaido's Matsue town, O-Sawa Shrine is a tranquil Shinto temple...
View shrine →O-SAWA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Susano-oLocated in the scenic town of Matsuyama, Hokkaido's northernmost city, O-Sawa Shrine is a sacred sit...
View shrine →Onakayama Shrine
七飯町, 北海道
nullOnakayama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the rural town of Shibetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicate...
View shrine →Ōnawa Inari Shrine
函館市, 北海道
Inari OkamiŌnawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hakodate City, northern Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture...
View shrine →Oomori Inari Shrine
函館市, 北海道
Inari OkamiLocated in Hakodate City, northern Japan, Oomori Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...
View shrine →SANJA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Otake, Okuninushi, Amatsukami Okami Hara-no-MatsubishinoLocated in the heart of Matsumae Town, Hokkaido, Sanja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
View shrine →SANJA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Futsunami-no-kami, Takamagahara-hiko, FujinokamiSANJA Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Matsusaka-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. The shrine is dedicated t...
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.