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
Shiga
ŌkuninushiPrisen Ohashi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Konan, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is ded...
View shrine →
Shiga
Enma明合神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Omiya, Shiga Prefecture, and is dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Shiga
HachimanLocated in Shiga Prefecture, Eight-Fold Mountain Hachiman Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicate...
View shrine →
Shiga
Ryujin, Fukui-no-KamiNestled in the picturesque town of Kozu in Shiga Prefecture, Torii Shrine is a serene Shinto temple...
View shrine →
Shiga
Tenjin布施神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Ena, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the deity Fuk...
View shrine →
Shiga
Located in the heart of Shiga Prefecture, Dabenchai-Ten is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Shiga
Hachiman, SusanooGodai-ju Shrine, located in the town of Katsuyama in Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →
Shiga
RyujinLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Iwodo-san Shinmei Shrine is a sacred site dedicat...
View shrine →
Shiga
Mountain KingTodaei-ji Mountain King Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain king kami, located in th...
View shrine →
Shiga
Ōto no kamiLocated in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, Kyoto Oto no Kami Hoshu Shrine is a historic Shinto s...
View shrine →
Shiga
OkuninushiLocated in the city of Omi-Hachiman, Shiga Prefecture, Koben-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrin...
View shrine →
Shiga
Located in the city of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, 繁栄稲荷社 (Fukuzo Inari Shrine) is a revered Shinto s...
View shrine →
Shiga
located in the city of Omiya, Shiga prefecture, Shōchū Izunagata Shrine is a small but significant S...
View shrine →
Shiga
HachimanLocated in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Kusatsu-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the kami of f...
View shrine →
Shiga
Lady Kaeko藤阪菅原神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Katsuyama, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicated to the...
View shrine →
Shiga
nullHosojigijinsha, located in the town of Echizen, Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
View shrine →
Shiga
Amaterasu ŌmikamiOtsu Shrine, dedicated to the deity Amaterasu Ōmikami, is one of Japan's oldest shrines, dating back...
View shrine →
Shiga
DaikokutenTsumago Shrine, located in the mountains of Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to Kamakura Daikokuten, a...
View shrine →
Shiga
Emperor UtsuboLocated in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, the Shrine of Utsubo Jo no Ō (Wakado no Ō) is a Shinto shrine d...
View shrine →
Shiga
KamikokuryouLocated in the picturesque town of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, White Beard Shrine (, Shiragami-jinja) is...
View shrine →
Shiga
Susanoo-no-Mikoto若宮八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicated to the de...
View shrine →
Shiga
Hachiman Okamilocated in the Omi-Hachiman region of Shiga Prefecture, the Omi Hachiman Shrine is dedicated to Hach...
View shrine →
Shiga
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, 犬胴松 Shrine is dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto...
View shrine →
Shiga
HonokamiFire God Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the city of Gokayma, Shiga Prefecture. Dedicated to th...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.