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
Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine
Kanagawa
Emperor Ojin (Hondawake no Mikoto)Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the deified Empero...
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Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
Kanagawa
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Wakamiya Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Oji...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kanagawa
Wakamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture. The name 'Wakamiya' literally means 'youn...
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Wakamiya Shrine
Kanagawa
Wakamiya Shrine, located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of the most important Shinto shrin...
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Watauchi Hie Shrine
Kanagawa
Oyamakui-no-KamiWatauchi Hie Shrine is a local Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-Kami, t...
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Yagokoro-Omoikane Shrine
Kanagawa
Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-MikotoA shrine dedicated to Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-Mikoto, the Shinto deity of wisdom, intelligence, and goo...
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Yakumo Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYakumo Shrine is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the Shinto deity of storms and the sea. The name 'Y...
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Yama Shrine
Kanagawa
Yamato-no-okamiYama Shrine, located in the city of Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Yamanaka Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiYamanaka Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosp...
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Yamato Tenmangu
Kanagawa
TenjinYamato Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of learning and culture, Tenjin. Located in...
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Yanagihara Shrine
Kanagawa
nullYanagihara Shrine, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the s...
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Yaneiri Tenjin Shrine
Kanagawa
Sugawara no MichizaneA local Tenjin shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar...
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Yaotome Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachi-OkamiYaotome Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Fujin and HikoboshiYasaka Shrine, located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of Japan's most iconic Shinto shrine...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yasaka Shrine
Kanagawa
Susanoo-no-MikotoYasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amater...
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Yatsurugi Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman and associated warrior deitiesYatsurugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Hachiman, the divine protect...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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