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
Niigata
Kamado-no-Mori no KamiMiike Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Miike, Sanjo, and Kashiwazaki cities of Niigata Prefectur...
View shrine →Niigata
HachimanKanematsu Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity H...
View shrine →Niigata
Okuninushi-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Japan's mountainous region, Daiya-jinja Shrine in Niigata Prefecture is dedi...
View shrine →Niigata
NoneGokurenetsu Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Minamiyashiro, Niigata Prefecture. The s...
View shrine →Niigata
InariUega-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Uegahara, Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Niigata
RyuoThe Ryuo Shrine in Niigata Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Ryuo, a mythical dragon th...
View shrine →Niigata
Kawakuni-no-kamiRiverine River God Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Kosuge, Niigata Prefecture, is dedicat...
View shrine →Niigata
BontenSmall Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of rice and agriculture, located in a scenic area near th...
View shrine →Niigata
Izumisuno-OkamiIzumisuno Shrine, located in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to Izumisuno-Okam...
View shrine →Niigata
Oyama BushiLocated in the city of Minami-Niigata, small town in Niigata Prefecture, is the Shintosmall布施神社...
View shrine →Niigata
Sugawara no MichizaneLocated in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, Tenjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawa...
View shrine →Niigata
Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the town of Kosaka, Niigata Prefecture, Hirosaki Jinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →Niigata
YatagarasuLocated in the heart of Echigo Takamatsu, white mountain shrine, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Niigata
Dedicated to the kami of agriculture and fertility, Goshin'youjin Taisha is a Shinto shrine located...
View shrine →Niigata
FujitaniLocated in the beautiful Niigata prefecture,藤橋神社 is a serene Shinto shrine nestled near a tranqu...
View shrine →Niigata
nullLocated in the picturesque Niigata Prefecture, Godai Shrine is dedicated to Ise no Okami and Ise no...
View shrine →Niigata
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, Stone Gate Shrine is a Shinto...
View shrine →Niigata
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Niigata City, Iimi Shinto Shrine is one of Japan's most famous shrines dedic...
View shrine →Niigata
RyujinSetoishi Shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of fish...
View shrine →Niigata
Castle Town Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata's castle town, is dedicated to the spirits of th...
View shrine →Niigata
Tsuchi no Kami (Earth God) and Katsushika-no-Kami (God of the Rice Fields)Utsunomiya Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of agriculture and fertil...
View shrine →Niigata
Hachiman-guUesugi Kyohei, the daimyo of the Uesugi clan, built the original Eight-Horned Shrine (Hachimantai) i...
View shrine →Niigata
BenzaitenLocated in the heart of Niigata, Gunkōden no Ike Abenobu-tori is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Niigata
AmaterasuThe Aikawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture. Dedicated to...
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.