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
KannonTwenty-Seven Faces of Kannon, a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture dedicated to the Buddhist goddess...
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Akita
Located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, Shrines white waterfall frog (, Shirakawa no Kame) ho...
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Akita
Ōyashiro-sama真山神社奥宮, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
Kami no Okami (Kuremono)Located in the heart of Akita, 七倉神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice goddess, Kami no Ok...
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Akita
Enma DaiōkannonRikuguni Junrei, a Shinto pilgrimage route originating from Akita Prefecture, passes through the Six...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita, the Snowy Lamps Shrine is a prominent Shinto site that honors the spi...
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Akita
JogijūJōgijū Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the kami of the same name, believed to be a...
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Akita
Utsutsu HachimanLocated in the city of Sakata, Akita Prefecture, the Shirakami-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedic...
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Akita
Prayat Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the kami of ferti...
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Akita
Hoshikage no KamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Shrines of the Wild Dog statue, also known as , is dedicat...
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Akita
Inazuma OkamiThe Shrine of the Fox God, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto site dedicated to the enshrineme...
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Akita
Hikoboshi, InariTōkatsu Shrine, located in the city of Akita, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of fire and light, Hi...
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Akita
nullThe Torikamachi Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god of rice, prosperity, and g...
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Akita
InariThe 狛犬 Shrine in Akita Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of luck and prosperity,...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, Soc Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, Dewa Sanzan's Indrahara Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god...
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Akita
Located in the Akita Prefecture, Hantaku Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of longevi...
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Akita
TangosamaThe Tangosama Daisan Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the deity T...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Taipei-yama-oki is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami o...
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Akita
BenzaitenGold Goddess Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of beauty, music, and art...
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Akita
Inari OkamiRyukyu-inari Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines dedicated to I...
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Akita
Kamado-OkamiThe Taibeizan Stone Monument, located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedic...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, Inari Okitakami Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice...
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Akita
Inu no OkamiInukami no Okami Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inukami, the deity of dogs and children. Loc...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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