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
小千谷市, 新潟県
nullThe Twelve Great Shining Deities Shrine, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the most fa...
View shrine →Niigata
Uesugi TenjinUesugi Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Uesugi Kengo, a skille...
View shrine →Niigata
KappaLocated in the mountains of Niigata, Ō-no-in is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to Kappa, a water s...
View shrine →Niigata
SusanooThe White Mountain Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto de...
View shrine →Niigata
Hachiman ŌkamiLocated in the city of Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, Kōbi no Sato Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →Niigata
Sakaino-OkamiSakai Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Niigata City, dedicated to the worship...
View shrine →Niigata
SuwaSuwa Shrine in Niigata Prefecture is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami of the same name, a...
View shrine →Niigata
Suwa-no-kamiThe Old Gate of Suwa Shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is one of the oldest and most histor...
View shrine →Niigata
Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the Niigata Prefecture, Kagami-ga-dera Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
View shrine →Niigata
RyujinGold Hall Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the go...
View shrine →Niigata
Susanoo ŌkuninushiKamakura's oldest Shinto shrine, dedicated to the storm god Susanoo and the sea god Ōkuninushi, loca...
View shrine →Niigata
InudahobaInudahoba Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Nishikawa neighborhood of Agematsu, Niigata Prefe...
View shrine →Niigata
Located in the city of Kashiwa, in the prefecture of Chiba, is the Shitennoji Temple, one of Japan's...
View shrine →Niigata
RyujinReshi Jinsha is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to the...
View shrine →Niigata
Yamato-tsu-himeLocated in the city of Niigata, the Ara-gi-jinsha Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to th...
View shrine →Niigata
若杉神社, located in the city of Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kam...
View shrine →Niigata
BigakamiBigakami-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture. Dedicated to Bi...
View shrine →Niigata
Ryujin/Ototsu no MikotoLocated in the city of Kariya, Niigata Prefecture, Seagreen Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to t...
View shrine →Niigata
Ise Grand Shrine, located in Mie Prefecture, is one of Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines. However,...
View shrine →Niigata
Located in the heart of Niigata, Shiro-magane-dō is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Raijin, th...
View shrine →Niigata
Churyu Hiko no KamiChuryu no Miroku Taisha, or Spring Day Palace Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kari...
View shrine →Niigata
Okami-no-mikoto長瀬神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kakunodate, Niigata Prefecture, renowned for its...
View shrine →Niigata
Ryūjin, Inari ŌkamiKanmachi Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the worsh...
View shrine →Niigata
Inari OkamiThe Inari shrine in Niigata Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami, known as the go...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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