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
Niigata
RyujinHaseda Shrine, located in Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the god of storms and fertility, Ryuji...
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Okuninushi Okamilocated in the Noto Peninsula, Hata-ta is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi Okami, a kami asso...
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Posed in the picturesque village of Nagano, the Tatsuta Shrine is a well-preserved Shinto temple ded...
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Tomidera-san, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is a humble Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Iwaki-tsurugi no kamiAncient and serene, Ancient Ridge Shrine in Nikko City is one of Japan's most beautiful shrines and...
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nullLocated in Niigata Prefecture, the Ryuzu Tenno Ishi-bito is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryuzen no O...
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Ryūjin-gamiTomidera Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shintō kami, Ry...
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Tomino-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Japan's rugged mountains, Tomidono-san is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Mount TsumayaTsumaya Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Located in the Niigata Prefecture, 湯殿山 (Hotonden-yama) Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the...
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Fuin no Yama Shrine, located in the Niigata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Tatsuoka Inari Shrine, also known as Tatsunohara Inari Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the tow...
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Inari OkamiTomidaira Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity I...
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RyūjinLocated in the heart of Echigo Sanzan, a sacred mountain range in Niigata Prefecture, Ōdō Shrine is...
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InariIshibashi Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god of rice and prosperity, is located in the heart of San...
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RyujinTsuruga Shrine, located in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture, is dedicated to the deity of the sea...
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Located in the Japanese Alps, Towadaiyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection of t...
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Located in the heart of Japan's snow-capped mountains, Ōi-sanji Hōshi no Miyako Shrine is a Shinto s...
View shrine →新潟県新潟市, Niigata
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of New Nagasaki, Bird's Nest Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship...
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Enma-daijin諏訪社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Minami, Niigata Prefecture, known as 'Niigata's Shr...
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Rice kamiIshihara Shrine, located in the city of Kariya in Aichi Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous Sh...
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Kaito ShinmeiThe Kaishin Shrine in Niigata Prefecture is dedicated to the god of industry and commerce, Kaito Shi...
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Tobu no KamiThe Ishi no Daiden-sha, located in the city of Agematsu, Niigata Prefecture, is a historic Shinto sh...
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Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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