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
Aomori
Tsukiyomi no Kami, Amaterasu ŌkimiThe Woman Goddess Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship...
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Aomori
InariInari Okappi Shrine, located in Aomori Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines dedi...
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Aomori
Inari OkamiThe Sado Inari Shrine in Aomori Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice god Inari Okami,...
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Aomori
BenzaitenLocated in Aomori Prefecture, 弁財天 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of wisdo...
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Aomori
RyujinGood Knowledg Dragon Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Aomori Prefecture, on the northern island...
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Aomori
RyujinLocated in the Aomori Prefecture, the Eight Great Dragon God Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedica...
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Aomori
Nogi-jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the memory of Admiral Heihachiro Nogi, is located in Aomori...
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Aomori
Located in Aomori Prefecture, the Shirakami-Sanchi National Park and the town of Nenetsu are home to...
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Aomori
HachimanPurtsu-machi Kami-miya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Aomori City, honoring the k...
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Aomori
RyūjinLocated in the city of Aomori, Ryūjin-mya, or Dragon God Palace, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Aomori
Located in the Aomori Prefecture, 岩木山大神 Shrine is dedicated to the worship of the mountain god...
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Aomori
Tsukuyomi-no-MikotoThe 猿田彦大神 Shrine in Aomori Prefecture is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami, Tsukuyomi...
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Aomori
EbisuThe Ebisu Shrine in Aomori is dedicated to Ebisu, the god of prosperity and good fortune. This shrin...
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Aomori
HachimanLocated in the scenic city of Aomori, Aomori-cho Hachimantai Aomori Hashi Hachiman-gu ( commonly ref...
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Aomori
Tsurugaoka-ha is a prominent architectural style in the Tohoku region, and the Torii gate at Tsukimi...
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Aomori
InariLocated in the heart of Aomori city, Iwaki Okurai Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japa...
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Aomori
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Aomori City, middle Kumagawa Shrine is a significant Shinto site dedicated t...
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Aomori
Houshaku-gami大瀧薬師神社, located in Aomori Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of healing and m...
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Aomori
HachimanLocated in Aomori Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity o...
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Hokkaido
nullThe Nine-Story Shrine in Hakodate, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the Sea and...
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Hokkaido
nullIshikari River no Kami Shrine, located in the heart of Hokkaido's rural landscape, is a lesser-known...
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Hokkaido
TsukuyomiLocated in the scenic town of Aomori, Japan, 小川神社 (Kowakien Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Hokkaido
RyujinLocated in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, 力昼稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Hokkaido
Susanoo no MikotoOne-no-Hashi Shrine in Hokkaido is dedicated to the kami of bridges, particularly those that span ri...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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