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

諏訪神社

Niigata

Located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, Tonboji-temple, not to be confused with Tonboji, is...

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石祇

Niigata

Inari

Located in the Sanriku coastal region of Niigata Prefecture, the Stone Statue Shrine (Tani no Kan) i...

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白山神社

Niigata

Utsukushiyama

Located in the picturesque town of Minamiuonuma, White Mountain Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shin...

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坂町区 神社

Niigata

This Shinto shrine, dedicated to the kami of the mountain and forest spirits, is a tranquil oasis in...

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柏崎大神宮

Niigata

Hachiman

Berasaki-daijinmyo, located in the prefecture of Niigata, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman-g...

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石坂神社

Niigata

Susa-no-Okami

Stone Pass Shrine, located in the Japanese Alps, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami of t...

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二荒山神社

Niigata

Kusunoki

Located in the town of Kosaka, Niigata Prefecture, Hieizan Iseki Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...

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十二大明神

Niigata

Takemikazuchi

The Twelve Great Deities Shrine in Niigata is dedicated to the Shinto god of agriculture, water, and...

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建駒稲荷神社

Niigata

Inari

Built in 1671, Jiten-ko Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to...

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塩殿神社

Niigata

Salt Goddess

Located in the city of Kashiwazaki, the Salt Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of salt...

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川西天満宮

Niigata

Tenman no Okami

Kawasaka Tenman Shrine, located in the town of Minami-Kawauchi in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated t...

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萬城稲荷神社

Niigata

Inari Okami

Located in the city of Kariya, Niigata Prefecture, Man'yō-jō Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicat...

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十二神社

Niigata

Jishu, Hachiman, Tenjin, Susanoo, Amaterasu, Fujin, Raijin, Ukanon, Inari, Kamado no kami, Okuninushi, and Konoe

Located in the town of Aikawa, Niigata Prefecture, the Twelve Gods Shrine is a historic Shinto site...

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諏訪神社

Niigata

Inari Ōkami

Temple of the god of rice, prosperity, and fertility, located in the city center of Joetsu in Niigat...

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八海社

Niigata

Fujizuka no kami

Located in the scenic coastal town of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Eight Seas Shrine honors the powe...

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北谷内稲荷神社

Niigata

Raijin

北谷内稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the valley of northern Niigata, Japan. The shrine's pri...

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神明社

Niigata

神明社, located in Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of wisdom and educat...

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桃山神明社

Niigata

Amaterasu, Hachiman

Located in the city of Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Tamagayashinmei Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...

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神明神社

Niigata

Okuninushi

The Godai-jingu shrine, dedicated to the god of rice and prosperity, is a historic Shinto site in Ni...

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神明社

Niigata

Godai

The Godai Shrine, located in the scenic town of Minami-Niigata, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...

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諏訪神社

Niigata

Tonogawa-hachiman

Toshosai Shrine, also known as the Toshogu Shrine of Niigata, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ka...

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諏訪神社

Niigata

Inari Okami

諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kuroda, Niigata Prefecture. Dedicated to the kami...

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石動神社

Niigata

Ryujin

Located in the heart of Niigata Prefecture, Kurodahonji Shrine is a tranquil Shinto shrine dedicate...

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神明宮

Niigata

Enmei O-no-mikoto

神明宮 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of wisdom and enlightenment, located in the heart of...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

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

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