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
Shimokōriyama Jinja
Miyagi
HachimanShimokōriyama Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedic...
View shrine →
Shinmeisha Shrine
Miyagi
Located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Shinmeisha Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedica...
View shrine →
Shiogama Jinja
Miyagi
Ryujin, Hirosaki no kamiLocated in the coastal town of Shiogama, Shiogama Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god...
View shrine →
Shiogama Jinja
Miyagi
Shio kamiLocated in the city of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Shiogama Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →
Shiogama-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Shiogama-jinja Shrine is one of Japan's oldest a...
View shrine →
Shiratori Jinja
Miyagi
OkuninushiLocated in the town of Shirato, Miyagi Prefecture, Shiratori Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to O...
View shrine →
Shiratori Jinja
Miyagi
Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Shibata, Miyagi Prefecture, Shiratori Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →
Shiratori Jinja
Miyagi
Located in the scenic town of Kesennuma, Shiratori Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →
Shirotori-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
Shiro-tori no OkamiLocated in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, Shirotori-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the kami Shir...
View shrine →
Shiwahiko Shrine
Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the city of Sendai, Shiwahiko Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the enshrined deity...
View shrine →
Soba Jinja
Miyagi
InariLocated in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Soba Jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →
Suga Jinja
Miyagi
Amaterasu OmikamiSuga Jinja, located in the city of Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
View shrine →
Suga Jinja
Miyagi
Tsukuyomi OkamiSuga Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Shibata, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedicated to...
View shrine →
Suga Jinja
Miyagi
Suga Jinja, located in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Suga Jinja
Miyagi
Tsukiyomi-gamiLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Suga Jinja is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →
Suga Jinja
Miyagi
Fujin, RaijinSuga Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the protection and prosperi...
View shrine →
Sumiyoshi Jinja
Miyagi
Amaterasu, Osonae no Okami, Taka-mori Okami, HikoboshiLocated in the town of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, Sumiyoshi Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →
Suwa Jinja
Miyagi
SuwaSuwa Jinja, located in the Miyagi prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of childbirth...
View shrine →
Suwa Jinja
Miyagi
Suwa Jinja, located in the Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same n...
View shrine →
Suwa Shrine
Miyagi
TsukuyomiSuwa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same name, believed to be the god of agr...
View shrine →
Taga-jinja Shrine
Miyagi
Izumo Taisho-gamiLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Taga-jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to t...
View shrine →
Takekoma Jinja
Miyagi
Inari OkamiTakekoma Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inari Okami in Miyagi Prefecture, is renowned...
View shrine →
Takekoma Jinja
Miyagi
Takekoma Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The shrine's na...
View shrine →
Takekoma-Jinja Shrine
Miyagi
TakekomaLocated in the Miyagi prefecture, Takekoma-Jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of...
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.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.