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
nullGlacial Fox's Green Frog Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Niigata
RyūjinRyusō no guchi Shrine in Niigata Prefecture is dedicated to the god of the sea, Ryūjin, and is known...
View shrine →Niigata
Located in the scenic mountains of Niigata, Tennōmyōzan Fudō-ji is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Niigata
InariLocated in the Niigata Prefecture, 茗荷稲荷 Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
View shrine →Niigata
BenzaitenEight-Horned Shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of p...
View shrine →Niigata
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Torikagaya Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedica...
View shrine →Niigata
HoteiYokotsujo Shrine, located in the coastal town of Kurokawa in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to Hot...
View shrine →Niigata
nullLocated in the foothills of Mount Iwanuma, Toriofunagashi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Niigata
Ōnuma-OkamiThe shrine of Ōnuma, located in the city of Shibakawa in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shi...
View shrine →Niigata
Unmoving Venerable GodLocated in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Temple Mountain Unmoving Venerable God Shrine Fire Produ...
View shrine →Niigata
Inari OkamiThe Tomioka Inari Shrine, located in the town of Tomioka in Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine d...
View shrine →Niigata
Okuninushi Ōnoimatsuri-no-kamiLocated in the scenic Niigata Prefecture, Jishūjin Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Okuninushi...
View shrine →Niigata
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Niigata, Tonouchi no Mayana Shrine is one of Japan's oldest shrines dedicated...
View shrine →Niigata
AmaterasuLocated in the Oita Prefecture, Shinto厳島神社 is one of Japan's most famous shrines dedicated to th...
View shrine →Niigata
HachimanLocated in the city of Agemo, Niigata Prefecture, Hachimangū Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →Niigata
Hachiman Okami若宮神社, located in the beautiful Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship o...
View shrine →Niigata
InariLocated in the picturesque town of Kitaibaraki, Niigata Prefecture, Philosopher's Shrine is a Shinto...
View shrine →Niigata
TsukuyomiTemple of the messenger god, Tsukuyomi, located in a scenic area near the coast of Niigata Prefectur...
View shrine →Niigata
Shikabine O no KamiLocated in the city of Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, Daijungu Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity o...
View shrine →Niigata
nullLocated in the heart of Japan's snow-capped mountains, Godai-ji Temple is a lesser-known Shinto shri...
View shrine →Niigata
Kinoshita no OkamiLocated in the city of Agematsu, Niigata Prefecture, Kinoshita Hitorigahara Shrine is dedicated to K...
View shrine →Niigata
Ōkuninushi諏訪宮 is a Shinto shrine located in Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of water and fertilit...
View shrine →Niigata
Amenomurashiki no OkamiThe Tenno Shrine, dedicated to Amenomurashiki no Okami, is a Shinto shrine located in Hakusan-cho, A...
View shrine →Niigata
Andamatsumaya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The shri...
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.