Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

流岡神社

Shiga

Ryogoku

Located in the beautiful Lake Biwa region, Ryogaoka Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to...

View shrine →

八幡神社

Shiga

Yatagarasu

The Eight-Horned Shrine, located in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedic...

View shrine →

若宮八幡神社

Shiga

Hachiman Okami

Ifukuji Shrine, located in the city of Omi-Hachiman, Shiga Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and...

View shrine →

天満宮

Shiga

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Located in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Tenno-ji Temple is one of Japan's oldest and most reve...

View shrine →

天満宮

Shiga

Ryujin

Located in the picturesque town of Hikone, Shigarai Taishōjin Shrine, also known as Tenman-ji, is on...

View shrine →

日吉神社

Shiga

Amaterasu

Dayetsu-jinja, located in the scenic town of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine ded...

View shrine →

古矢真神社

Shiga

Tamayotsukunomitono Mikoto

Located in the prefecture of Shiga, ancient Ōmi Province, ancient Ōmishimo region of ancient Japan i...

View shrine →

御清水稲荷神社

Niigata

Inari Okami

Located in the city of Niigata, 御清水稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inari Okami,...

View shrine →

羽黒山神社

Niigata

Gedo no Okami

Located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, Haka Black Mountain Shrine is a sacred site dedicate...

View shrine →

諏訪神社

Niigata

Gokayama's 諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Japan's ancient village, known for it...

View shrine →

八幡神社・熊野神社・稲荷神社拝殿

Niigata

Inari Okami, Kushinomaru

Located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, the Shrine's complex features a unique blend of architec...

View shrine →

廣瀬神社

Niigata

Located in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Karamatsu Jinja Shrine is dedicated to the kami...

View shrine →

高倉神社

Niigata

Shimo no Okami

Takahashi Shrine, located in the town of Higashi-Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine tha...

View shrine →

若宮八幡神社

Niigata

Amaterasu Okami

Located in the picturesque town of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Ifukaichiba Shrine is dedicated...

View shrine →

和納三社神社

Niigata

Ando-no-Okami

Ando Sanjakimahensha is a Shinto shrine in Niigata Prefecture, located on the northern tip of Honshu...

View shrine →

新宮熊野神社

Niigata

Located in the town of Aikawa, Niigata Prefecture, Shinmyo-kuma-no-jinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicat...

View shrine →

早戸温泉神社

Niigata

Benzaiten

Early Todō Onsen Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, known...

View shrine →

大山祗神社 御本社

Niigata

O-no-Tōshiyama-tsumi-gami

Located in Niigata, the Great Shrine of Ōno-tōshiyama is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shrines,...

View shrine →

大山祗神社 大久保遥拝殿

Niigata

Ryūjin

Located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, Ōyama Prasmita no Matsu-tsumi Jinja is a Shinto shri...

View shrine →

熊野神社

Niigata

Hachiman

Kumano Sanzan's revered Kumano Okappi shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is deeply rooted in the...

View shrine →

金刀比羅神社

Niigata

Kanemori Hara Okami

Kanemori Hara Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Kanemori Hara O...

View shrine →

北宮諏訪神社

Niigata

Fujin

Located in the heart of Echigo, Niigata Prefecture, North Temple Shrine is a sacred Shinto site dedi...

View shrine →

熊野神社

Niigata

Koamayo

Koumaya Shrine, located in the heart of Niigata city, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the wors...

View shrine →

熊野神社

Niigata

Kaito San no Okami

Kamakura-era shrine located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to Kaito San no Okami,...

View shrine →

Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

Japanese Culture Network

Japanese Wood Joints

Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen

ShrinePuzzle

Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games

Kohibou

Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides

E2Japan

Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations

The 725 Club

SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker

Spaceship Adventures

Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development

Uptown Zero

Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life

Book Fairy Tales

AI-powered educational stories for kids

CSSKitsune

Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts

Shinto Wisdom app icon
Free App · No Ads · Offline

Shinto Wisdom Daily Practice

by 10k Game Studio

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.

結び Musubi 清め Harae 自然 Shizen 間 Ma 誠 Makoto + 45 more
Get it on Google Play