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
一関市, 岩手県
ShishigamiHighkura Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest...
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Miyagi
Located in the heart of Sendai, the sacred grounds of Arai Shrine have stood for centuries as a test...
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Miyagi
Omami Okami-gamiMiyajima Shrine, located on the famous Itsukushima Island in Miyagi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto...
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一関市, Miyagi
GodaigoThe Kami no Maki Shrine, located in Yamagata Prefecture's Shonai City, is dedicated to Tsukuyomi, th...
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一関市, Miyagi
Ningyo-no-oki-tachibana (Fruit Tree God)Operational Shrine Inc. is the managable organization of the shrine. The shrine's foundation dates b...
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Miyagi
InariPrayatotsu Sansha Shrine, located in the town of Yamasaki, Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to three...
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Miyagi
Located in Miyagi Prefecture,鹿島神社 (Kashima Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of K...
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Akita
Nagasawa no kamiFukunagasanzenryu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of a...
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Tochigi
Mizu no kamiLocated in the scenic town of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Mizukuni Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuar...
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Kyoto
Taikomori-OkamiThe Eight-Horsemans Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the enshrined kami of t...
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宮古島市, 沖縄県
Hachiman-okiLocated in Miyaura Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Akanmiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the s...
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Shizuoka
Located in the heart of Izu Peninsula, Shikine Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omik...
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Kanagawa
Takamago OkamiKodogahama Shrine, located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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山北町, 神奈川県
Otohime-samaLocated in the town of Yamikata, Kanagawa Prefecture, Tenjōshōjin-sha is a small Shinto shrine dedic...
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南足柄市, 神奈川県
Fuwa-sa Shrine, located in the heart of Minami-Atsugi City, is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Kanagawa
SuijinLocated in the heart of Kanagawa Prefecture, Suiden Temple is a serene Shinto oasis that honors the...
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Nagano
Tsukuyomi-no-kamiHigh Priest's Shrine, located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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小田原市, 神奈川県
Amaterasu Omikami, Susanoo-no-kamiLocated in the scenic town of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, the San'ishi Shrine is a revered Shinto...
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Shimane
OkuninushiHigh Hamamatsu Shrine, located in the coastal town of Hamamatsu in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated...
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Shimane
Located in the scenic coastal town of Matsue, Oda Izumo Taisha's subsidiary shrine, Izumo Takamatsu...
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西海市, Saga
Amaterasu, Susanoo, InariLocated in the coastal city of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture is not correct for八木天満宮, however;...
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西海市, Saga
InariTosa no Saki Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Saikai, Saga Prefecture. The shrine is...
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Gunma
Kumano-gawa Shrine, located in Gunma Prefecture, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. Dedic...
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Gunma
FujinLocated in the heart of Gunma Prefecture,諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the water deity, F...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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