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
Akita
Ningyo-no-Kami (Dragon God of Water)Snake Tomb Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the enshrined deity o...
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Akita
InariLocated in the city of Akita, Horikami Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, Eight-Sacred Shrine (Hachisakasan) is a historic Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Akita
TenryuLocated in the city of Yokote, Akita Prefecture, Tenryu Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Tenryu...
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Akita
Tamashii no Kami (Soul Spirits' Kami)Located in the prefecture of Akita,矢島招魂社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami of the Sea, b...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture,土花貝塚 Shrine is a lesser-known yet fascinating Shinto sh...
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Akita
Kumori-yoshiKumoriyoshi Shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Sh...
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Akita
TamagisanThe seven-towered small house Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to various kami, includ...
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Akita
Shirogami-himeToday, visitors to the Iwaki-gawa Shrine in Akita Prefecture can still feel the presence of the regi...
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Akita
nullLocated in the city of Yurihara, Akita Prefecture, Ōteguchi no Iki is a Shinto shrine that has been...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Reisasugi Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the spirit of reve...
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Akita
Akakami-no-kamiAkakami Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of l...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a renowned Shinto shrine dedicated to the d...
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Akita
Tobiuso no KamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Urasa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami of agriculture an...
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Akita
Roots Shrine, located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of agri...
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Akita
Kaito no KamiHigh Tail Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fire and t...
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Akita
InariVoll渕神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, known for its connection to the Voll渕氏...
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Akita
Umi no IkizukamiWillow Tree Shrine, located in the city of Akita, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the...
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Akita
Ryūjin新田神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of the kami Ryūjin...
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Akita
Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita, the Hakusanzaka Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto deity...
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Akita
Located in the city of Dau, Akita Prefecture, Ōishima Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kam...
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Akita
Tsuchi-ishi-yama-no-KamiTsuchi-ishi Mori Shinsha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of mountains and forests, is located...
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Akita
Hokuto no kamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Yamagami Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of mountains and for...
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Akita
Tangō no OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Tangōji Shrine is a revered Shinto site that honors the local deity,...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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