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
HachimanThe Kakunodate Stone Buddha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Hachiman, the god...
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Akita
ShinryuThe Shinryu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Shinto god of s...
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Akita
Yuki-onnaThe Shimoji Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto deity, Yuki-onna, also known as th...
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Akita
The Shimekō Shrine, also known as 狛犬 Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, Japan...
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Akita
Ryūjin, BenzaitenThe狛犬 shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto kami of Ryūjin, the Dragon God, and Be...
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Akita
AmaterasuLocated in the city of Akita, too-heimyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Amateras...
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Akita
Yama-no-kamiThe Yama-no-Kami Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain k...
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Akita
RyūjinLocated in the scenic Ogasawara Mountains of Akita Prefecture, the Taipei-san Shrine is a serene Shi...
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Akita
AmaterasuThe Tenno Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess an...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in Akita Prefecture, Taiping-san Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agricultu...
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Akita
Located in the city of Yurihara, Maehata Okumya is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Amateras...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, Sanzen no Mori Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Akita
Onna-bugeisha (Female Warrior)Located in Akita Prefecture, 小野小町塚 is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the legendary h...
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Akita
nullThe Hand Basin Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a small Shinto shrine dedicated to the water...
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Akita
KinzaThe Kinzan-taisha Shrine, dedicated to the kami Pharaoh (Kinza), is a historic Shinto site located i...
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Akita
Inari Ō no KamiInakaya Shrine, dedicated to Inari Ō no Kami, is a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, located on the...
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Akita
ŌdaiminLocated in the heart of Akita city, 皇大神社 (Ōdaiminsha) is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Akita
Ōkuninushi-no-kamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Sanbutsu-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the three Shinto deities of a...
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Akita
Tamayama-himeLocated in the heart of Akita, Jogan-ji Shrine is dedicated to Tamayama-hime, a local kami associate...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sanbo-in Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worshi...
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Akita
Ōtori no KamiTodai-ji Temple, located in the city of Akita, is dedicated to the god of wisdom and education, but...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, Hachiman-gu Shrine is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Shinto...
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Akita
Daisenryu-no-kamiLocated in the city of Azuma, Akita Prefecture, Daisenryu Kofuku-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine ded...
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Akita
Sakano no OkamiSakano no Kami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of ferti...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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