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
Shiga
Inari OkamiTosasu Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The shr...
View shrine →Shiga
Located in Echizen Province, Shiga Prefecture, White Mountain Shrine is dedicated to the deities of...
View shrine →Shiga
The Ōrei-jinsha Shrine in Shiga Prefecture is a small but historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the en...
View shrine →Shiga
EbisuThe Nine-Headed God Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is a lesser-known Shinto temple dedicated t...
View shrine →Shiga
Benchien-ja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of good fortune, prosperity, and fertility loca...
View shrine →Tokushima
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated on the coast of Tokushima Prefecture, Shitenchman Temple is a historic Shinto shrine dedicat...
View shrine →北九州市, 福岡県
nullLocated in northern Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture's North Kyushu City is home to the large and historic...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
Okami配志和神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Oneko-cho, Aomori City, but appears to be listed under Iwat...
View shrine →Iwate
Located in the scenic Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, Ninno-ji Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is de...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
Toyomizu Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to the goddess of fertility and prosperity, Toyomiz...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
nullKitsugi-jinsha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of the loom and weaving, is located in Kesennum...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
HachimanLocated in Iwate Prefecture, ifuku-miyajima-hachiman-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman,...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
The Kojin-ji Shrine in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the storm god S...
View shrine →Iwate
RyujinEight Cloud Shrine, located in the scenic Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ensh...
View shrine →Iwate
InariInari Okami Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and most famous Shinto shr...
View shrine →一関市, Iwate
KamamesenokamiLocated in Iwate Prefecture, Onei Kanzaki Shrine, also known as Kamese Mantoji, is a Shinto shrine d...
View shrine →Iwate
ShirokanaiLocated in the prefecture of Iwate, Shirokanai Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of th...
View shrine →Iwate
Uchikaze-jinsha is a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of wind and l...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
Ō no AmbeKuromonozaka-yama-taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Oneko City, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to th...
View shrine →Iwate
Hokuto-san (Great Bear)Hokuto-san, the Great Bear deity, is enshrined at the Kojima Shrine in Iwate Prefecture. The shrine...
View shrine →Miyagi
Susano-oLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Clouds Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the d...
View shrine →一関市, Miyagi
Located in Miyagi Prefecture, Iwaki no Okami Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of fer...
View shrine →Miyagi
Susanoo-no-KamiLocated in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, 熊野神社 is one of the most sacred Shinto shrines de...
View shrine →Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Dayotsu Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shin...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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